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Saints 


IRcv.  §obn  Canon  ©tJanloti 


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LIVES 


OF 


THE    IRISH    SAINTS, 


WITH 


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COMPILED    FROM 


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RELATING  TO 


€ln  ann'ntt  Cftnrd)  J^is^toii)  of  Irelaulr. 


BY   THE 


REV.     JOHN     O'HANLON,     M.R.I.A, 


Vol.  II. 


Dublin:  James  Duffy  and  Sons,  15  Wellington-quay,  and 
la  Paternoster-row,  London. 

London:   Burns,   Gates,  and  Co,  17  &  18  Portman-street,  and 
6s  Paternoster-row,  E.G. 

New  York  :  The  Gatholic  Publishing  Society, 
9  Warren-street. 

lall  eights  reserved.] 


hi-  v« 

v.a. 


JOSEPH   DOLLARD,    PRINTER,    I3   &    14  DAME-STREET,    DUBLIX. 


CONTENTS. 


jft'rst  ©ap  of  jfrtruarg* 


Pasre 


Article  I.— Life  of  St.  Brigid,  Virgin,  First  Abbess  of  Kildare,  Special 

Patroness  of  Kildare  Diocese,  and  General  Patroness 

of  Ireland.     \^Fifth  and  Sixth  Centuries.} 

Chap.  I. — Introduction — Author's  Plan  and  Treatment — Autho- 
rities, ancient  and  modern,  for  the  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  —  Critical   Remarks  —  The    Holy    Virgin's  ' 

Parentage — Place  and  Date  of  her  Birth  ...  i 

Chap.  II. — The  Scotch  Claim  to  St.  Brigid's  Birth  examined — 
Probable  Origin  of  this  Error— Refutation — Early 
and  supernatural  Indications  of  Brigid's  Sanctity — 
Her  Spirit  of  Prophecy  manifested — Pier  infantile 
Virtues — Her  probable  Acquaintance  with  St. 
Patrick  during  Childhood — Her  Resolution  to  live 
a  Virgin — Her  Characteristics  and  Comparison  to 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  by  the  Irish  ...         33 

Chap.  III. — Statement  regarding  St.  Brigid's  Parents— Her 
personal  and  mental  Attractions  during  her  early 
Youth — Alleged  Treatment  by  her  Parents — Her 
great  Charity  towards  the  Poor — Brought  before 
Dunlaing,  King  of  Leinster — His  Admiration  of  her 
Virtues — Her  Resolution  to  embrace  a  Religious 
Life — A  Suitor  proposes  Marriage  Avith  Assent  of 
her  Family — She  rejects  this  Offer — Her  Religious 
Profession,  and  Opinions  advanced  relative  to  it — 
Probable  Time  and  Place— Establishment  of  St. 
Brigid's  first  Religious  House — She  selects  the 
Beatitude  of  Mercy  for  her  special  Practice — Her 
Miracles  ...  ...  ...         49 

Chap.  IV.— Remarkable  Manifestations  of  Providence  in  St. 
Brigid's  Regard — She  cures  many  diseased  and 
afflicted  Persons — Pier  Bounties  and  Hospitality — 
She  visits  St.  Ibar — Bishop  Mel's  religious  Intimacy 
with  St.  Brigid— Her  Miracles  in  Theba  or  Tefifia— 
Said  to  have  met  St.  Patrick  at  Tailtin — Her  Power 
over  Demons         ...  ...  ...         67 

Chap.  V. — At  St.  Lasara's  Convent  St.  Brigid  works  Miracles — 
Her  Excursion  to  Munster  with  Bishop  Ere — The 
Holy  Abbess  visits  Connaught — Her  Labours  and 
Austerities  while  there — The  People  of  Leinster  • 
request  her  to  return — She  complies,  and  re-crosses 
the  Shannon — She  resolves  on  building  her  great 
Establishment  at  Kildare  ...  ...         77 

Chap.  VI. — Kings  of  Ireland  in  the  Fourth  and  Fifth  Centuries — 
Condition  of  Leinster  after  the  Middle  of  the  Fifth 
Century — Kildare — Period  when  selected  by  St. 
Brigid  for  her  chief  Monastery — Gradual  Growth 
and  Importance  of  the  Place — Instances  of  her 
Protection  ...  ...  ...         93 

Chap,  VII.— St.  Brigid's  Intimacy  with  St.  Patrick— Armagh- 
Foundation  of  St.  Brigid  there — Her  Miracles — 
Vision  regarding  St.  Patrick's  last  Resting-place — 
Her  Spirit  of  sublime  Recollection  and  her  great 
Charity— She  desires  the  Introduction  of  the  Roman 
Rite  for  Ireland  ...  ...  ...       104 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
Chai'.  VIII. — lUand,  the  warrior  Prince  of  Leinster — St.  Brigid 
visits  her  Father,  Dubtach,  and  protects  his  Family — 
Favours  acconied   to  the  Holy  Abbess — She  visits 
King  lUand  and  blesses  him — The  Victories  of  this 
Dynast  overbid  Enemies— The  Borumha  Laighean — 
Wars  throughout   Ireland  during  St.  BrigiU's  Life- 
time— Death  ol  King  lUand— Victory  obtained  after 
his  Death  by  the  Lagenians,  through  the  special 
Protection  of  St.  Brigid  ...  ...       11$ 

Chap.  IX. — Diflferent  Places  called  Kilbride,  on  the  Eastern  and 
South -Eastern  Coast  of  ancient  Leinster,  where  the 
Holy  Abbess  may  have  lived— St.   Brigid  and  St. 
Senan— St.   Ikigid  restores  a  Cripple— An  insane 
Man — Various  Miracles  which  were  wrought  through 
her  Merits — She  prevents  Bloodshed  between  Conall 
and  Cairbre — She  saves  Conall  from  his  Enemies...       I28 
Chap.  X. — Ancient  Irish  Hospitality— Bishop  Broon's  Visit  to 
St.    Brigid — The    Eight    Bishops    of    Tullach    na 
n-Espuc — Holy   Brigid's  Love  for  the  Poor — Her 
generous  good  nature — Her  Gentleness  of  Manner — 
Illustration  of  such  Characteristics — Her  Chaplain, 
Natfroich  —  St.  Ninnidh— St.  Conleath  appointed 
Bishop  of  Kildare  ...  ...       14° 

Chap.    XI. — St.    Brigid's    Benignity   and    Prudence — Rewards 
miraculously  bestowed  on  the  Poor  and  on  her  En- 
tertainers— St.    Hinna— Miraculous    Occurrences — 
St.  Daria's   Sight  partially  restored— P'aith  in  St. 
Brigid's  Intercession  justified         ...  ...       154 

Chap.  XII.— The  Disciples  of  St.  Brigid— Her  holy  Contem- 
poraries— She   obtains   Pardon  for  a  Man  unjustly 
condemned   to    Death — The   Drovers    and    Swine 
escape  from  Wolves — St.  Brigid  protects  a  young 
Lady,  who  wished  to  be  a  Nmi — She  relieves  the 
Road-makers — Other  remarkable  Occurrences       ...       159 
Chap.  XIII. — St.  Brigid's  reputed  Residence  at  Glastonbury— 
The  early  Practice  of  Writing  and  Illuminating  in 
Ireland  —  Writings   ascribed   to    St.    Brigid  —  The 
conventual  Rule  and  Discipline,  under  which  herself 
and  her   Nuns  lived — Her  Charity  in  relieving  the 
Poor — Her  Modesty,  her  self-sacrificing  Spirit,  her 
Liberality,  her  Gifis  of  Mind  and  Person,  her  Powers 
for  healing  the  Sick  and  Infirm,  her  VigUs,  and  her 
Care  for  Subjects  ...  ...       169 

Chap.  XIV. — Vision  of  St.   Brigid  regarding  her  approaching 
Death — Her  Preparation — St.   Nennid  administers 
the  last  Sacraments  to  her — The  Year  and  Day  of 
St.    Brigid's  Departure— The  Place   where   it   oc- 
curred— Kildare   and    its   religious  Foundations — 
St.   Brigid's  Shrine  and  Relics — Honour  paid  to 
her  Memory  ...  ...  ...       177 

Chap.  XV. — Miracles   wrought    at    Kildare  after   St.   Brigid's 
Death — The   Falcon — St.    Brigid's   Relics   are   re- 
moved   to    Down  — Remarkable    Discovery   of    the 
Bodies  of  St.  Patrick,  St.  Brigid  and  St.  Columkille 
in  that  City — Solemn  Translation  to  a  magnificent 
Tomb — Kildare  and  its  Traditions — Deseciation  of 
holy  Remains  at  Down — Reputed  Removal  of  St. 
Brigid's  Head  to  Austria,  and  afterwauls  to  Lisbon        186 
Chap.  XVI.— Ancient  Churches,  Chapels,  religious  Institutions, 
and  Places  dedicated  to,  or  cnlled  after,  St.  Brigid, 
in  Ireland — Holy  Wells  and  Objects  associated  with 
her    Memory — Modern    Churches,    Chapels,    and 
Convents,  dedicated  to  her — Religious  Orders  placed 
under  her  Patronage  ...  ...       193 

Chap.  XVII.— Churches  and  religious  Institutes  dedicated  to  St. 
Brigid,  in  the  British  Islands,  in  ancient  and  modem 
Times,  as  also  on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  and  in 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
America  —  Festivals,     Commemorations,     OtTices, 
Hymns,   Relics,   Usages,   and  popular  Memorials, 
referring  to  her — Conclusion  ...  ...       211 

Article  II. — St.  Derlugdacha,  Virgin,  and  Second  Abbess  of  Kildare.     \FiJth  a/id 

Sixth  Centuries]  ...  ..■  -.       225 

Article  III.— St.   Cinnia,   Keine,   Cinni,   Kinnia,  or  Cinne,  Virgin,  of  Druim- 

Duhliain,  near  Clogher.     [Fifth  Century.]         ...  ...       228 

Article  IV.— St.  Brigid,  Virgin,  Patroness  of  the  Church  of  Opacum,  at  Fiesole, 

Italy.     [jVinth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       234 

Article  v.— St.  C  atan,  Cathand,  or  Caddan,  Bishop.     [Possiily  in  the  Fijth  or 

Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       238 

Article  VI.— St.  Prnccordius,  of  Veliaand  of  Corbie,  in  Picardy,  France.     {Pro- 

bably  in  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Centuries.]  ...  ...       244 

Article  VII. — St.  Aireannan,  Mac  Ui  Oidhibh,  or  Foduibh      ...  ...       245 

Article  VIII..— St.  Mochealloc  ...  ...  ...      246 

Article  IX.— St.  Beoin  or  Beon,  Virgin  ...  ...  ...      246 


^fcontr  Bap  of  jfefiruarp* 


Article  I. — St.  Columban,  Abbot  and  Recluse,  at  Ghent,  Belgium. 

[Tenth  Century.]                          ...                         ...                          ...  246 

Article  II. — St.  JoUathan,  of  the  Desert           ...                       ...                       ...  249 

Article  III. — St.  Eriulph,  Bishop  of  Verden  and  Martyr,  in  Saxony.     [Ninth 

Century.]          ...                         ...                         ...                          ...  250 

Article  IV.  — St.    Findeach  Duimd,  Bishop  of  Cill-Finnche,   at    Ath-Duirn,  in 

Ossory  Diocese,  and  County  of  Kilkenny           ...                         ...  254 

Article  v.— St.  Colman           ...                      .,.                      ...                      ...  261 

Article  VI.— St.  Aithmet,  Bishop  of  Clogher,  County  of  Tyrone.     [Probably  in 

the  Sixth,  Seventh  or  Ei_i^hth  Century.]                ...                         ...  26 1 

Article  VIT. — St.  Mothrianoc,  Son  of  ^ngus,  of  Rusgach        ...                       ...  262 

Article  VIII.  — St.  Colman       ...                        ...                        ...                        ...  262 

Article  IX.— Feast  of  St.  Laurence,  an  Irish  Bishop.     [Twelfth  Century.']        ...  263 

Article  X.  — Festival  of  a  reputed  St.  Fiudech,  Virgin              ...                      ...  263 


Cfiirtr  Bap  of  jfefiniarp^ 


Article  I.— St.  Anatolius,  Bishop  of  Salins,  France. 

Chap.    I. — Introduction  —  Change   of  Irish   Names  —  Various 
Opinions  of  Writers  regarding  St.  Anatolius— Born 
in  Ireland — He  becomes  a  Bishop  there— He  Visits 
Rome,  and  return?  through  France  ...       263 

Chap.  II. — St.   Anatolius  settles  at  Salins — Description  of  the 
Place — St.      Anatolius     lives    there    for    a    short 
Period  —  His    Death  —  Veneration    paid    to    his 
Memory  — Miracles  after  his  Departure— Conclusion      266 
Article  II. — Feast  of  St.  Colman  mac  Duach,  Bishop  and  Patron  of  Kilmacduagh 

Diocese.     [Seventh  Century.]    ...  ...  ...       269 

Article  III.— St,  Fothadh  II.,  Archbishop  of  Scotland.     [Eleventh  Century.]  ...       272 
Article   IV.  —  St.    Cuanan    or   Cuanna,   surnamed   Glinn,   or  Glinne,   Abbot  of 

Moville,  County  of  Down.     [Eighth  Century.]  ...  ...       275 

Article  V.— Reputed  Feast  of  St.  Macliegus,  Bishop  ...  ...       276 

Article  VI. — Festival  of  Saints  Felix  and  Symphronius  ...  ...       277 

Article  VII.— Feast  of  the  Translation  uf  St.  Waldetrude's  Relics  ...       277 

Article  VIII.  — St.  Caoilfionn,  Virgin  ...  ...  ...      277 

Article  IX.— Festival  of  St.  Tarahata  or  Attracta,  Virgin         ...  ...      277 


jfourtf)  Bap  of  jfthniarp. 


Article  I.— St.  Cuanna,  Abbot  of  Kill-cuanna,  or  Kilcoona,  County  op 
Galway,     [Seventh  Century.] 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
Chap.  I.  — Introduction— St.  Cuanna's  natal  Place  and  Family — 

His  early  Education — His  Religious  Life  ...       278 

Chap.    II, — St.    Cuanna    is    thought  to  have    compiled   Irish 
Annals — His  Settlement  at  Kilcoonagh — Descrip- 
tion of  the  Ruins  there—  Miracles  of  St.  Cuanna — 
His  Death — His  Festival — Conclusion  ...       282 

Article  II.—  St.  Modan,  Abbot,  and  St.  Medan,  in  Scotland.     [Probably  in  the 

Eighth  or  Ninth  Centj/ry.]         ...  ...  ...       288 

Article  III. — St.  Lomman,  of  Lough  Gill,  County  of  Sligo.     [Sixth  Century.'\  ...       295 
Article  IV. — The  Blessed  Rabanus  Maurus,  or  Raban-Maur,  Abbot  of  Fulda, 
and   Archbishop   of  Mayence,    Germany.      [Eighth  and  Ninth 
Centiti-ies.'\        ...  ...  ...  ...       300 

Article  V.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Gille,  or  Gillibert.     [Eleventh  and  Twelfth 

Centuries.]        ...  ...  ...  ...       322 

Article  VI.— St.  Fuidhbheach,  Son  of  Cillin,  or  Fuidbech  mac  Illadon  ...       33G' 

Article  VII.— Feast  of  St.  Tarahata  or  Attracta,  Virgin,  of  Killaraght,  County 

of  Sligo.     [Fifth  or  Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...       336 

Article   VIII. —St.   Cearan  of  Tamlacht  Gliadh,  in   Glenree,   Upper   Iveagh, 

County  Down  ...  ...  ...  ...       336 

Article  IX. — St.  Core,  of  Druim-Lomain  ...  ...  ...       337 

Article  X. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Fursey,   Abbo*  at   Perrone,  in   France. 

[Seventh  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       337 

Article  XL— St.  Cota,  of  Druim,  or  Druim  Lomain  ...  ...      337 


jfitti)  laap  of  jfebnuirp* 


Article  I.—St.  Buo,  Missionary  in  Iceland.     [Ninth  Century.] 

CUAP.    I. — Introduction  —  Physical   Peculiarities   of  Iceland — 
Character  of  the  Petjple— Early  Name  and  Coloniz.i- 
tion   of  Iceland — Irish    Christians  among  the  first 
Inhabitants— Description  of  the  Island,  by  the  Irish 
Geographer,    Dicuill  —  The   Norwegians  settle  in 
Iceland — Icelandic  Institutions  and  Literature 
Chap.  II. — St.  Ernulph,  an  Irish  Christian,  associated  with  St. 
Buo,  and  Ilclgo  Biola,   while  planting  the  Faith  in 
Iceland — A  Church  there  erected  to  St.    Columb, 
after  the  Destruction  of  a  pagan  Temple — Period 
when    St.    Buo  flourished — Subsequent   History  of 
Iceland,    and    Condition   of   its    Inhabitants — Pre- 
fecture of  the  Arctic  Missions — Conclusion 
Article  II.—- St.   Indract,  with  his   Sister  St.  Dominica,   and  his  Companions, 

Avho  were  Martyrs.     [During- the  Seventh  or  Eighth  Century.]   ...       349 
Article  III. — St.  Finghin,  Son  of  Odliran  Feabhla,  or  of  Metz,  in  France.     [Fro- 

badly  in  the  Tenth  and  Eleventh  Centuries.]        ...  ...       354 

Article  IV.— St.  Dubhthach,  Priest,  Son  of  Dubhan  ...  ...       357 

Article  V. — St.  Cera,  Virgin,  of  Raith  Moentich  ...  ...       35S 

Article  VI. — St.  Liadnan,  Abbot  of  Fobhar,  or  Fore,  County  of  Wcstmeath      ...       35S 
Article  VII.— St.  Baothan,  Son  of  Colman       ...  ...  ...       359 

Article  VIII. —Reputed  Festival  of  St,  Modan  ...  ...       359 

Article  IX.— St.  Eachtach  or  Hechtach,  Virgin  ...  ...       359 

Article  X.— Festival  of  St.  Agatha,  Virgin  and  Martyr.     [Third  Century.]        ...       359 


Bivti)  jaap  of  jfeliriiaiin 


344 


Article  I.— St.  Mel,  or  Melchuo,  Bishop  and  Patron  of  Ardagh  Dio- 
cese.    [Fifth  Century.] 

Chap.  I. — Introduction — Parentage  and  Connexions  of  St.  Mel — 
His  Mission  in  Ireland  and  Consecration — Bishop 
and  Abbot  at  Ardagh — His  Prophecies — Vindica- 
tion of  St.  Mel's  and  of  St.  Lupita's  Characters    ...       360 
Chap.    II. — St.    Brigid's   Intimacy  with   Bishop   Mel— Absurd 


CONTENTS. 


Pate 
Misstatements  of  certain  Writers  noticed— St.  Mel 
a  Disciple  of  St.  Patrick— Said  to  have  written  the 
Irish  Apostle's  Acts — Death  of  St.  Mel— His  f'es- 
tival — l"he  Cathedral  and  College  dedicated  to  St. 
Mel  at  Longford — Conclusion       ..  ...       364 

Article  II. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Melcu  or  Moelchuo,  supposed  to  be  a  Bishop 

ofArdagh         ...  ...  ...  ...       367 

Article  III. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Munis,  Bishop  of  Forgney,  County  of 

Longford.     \_Fifth  Ccnttiiy.'\      ...  ...  ...       36S 

Article  IV. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Rioch,  Abbot  of  Inis-Bofinde,  Lough  Ree, 

County  of  Longford.     [Fifth  Century.']  ...  ...       369 

Article  V. — St.  Plnian,  or  Mael-Finnia,  of  St.  Patrick's  Island,  near  Skerries, 

County  of  Dublin,     [Ninth  Centuiy.l  ...  ...       369 

Article  VI. — St.  Dura,  Son  of  Colum,  Bishop,  of  Drum-cremha  ...       374 

Article  VII. — Saints  Brandubh  and  Coluim,  of  Loch  Muinremhair  ...       374 

Article  VIII. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Fursey.     [Seventh  Century.]  ...       374 

Article  IX. — Festival  of  a  reputed  St.  Ronau  or  Ronanus.      [Supposed  to  have 

lived  in  the  Srjenth  Century.]    ...  ...  ...       375 

Article  X, — St.  Merinus,  a  Monk,  in  Scotland  ...  ...  ...       375 

Article  XL — Reputed  Feast  of  St.  Alto,  Abbot  of  Alt-Munster,  in  Bavaria. 

[Eighth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...      376 


^tbmtt)  Bap  ot  jfebniarp* 


Article  I.— St.  Tressan,  or  Tresan,  Confessor,  at  Avenay,  France. 
[Fifth  and  Sixth  Centuries.] 

Chap.  I. — Introduction — Nationality  of  St.   Tressan— Acts  a.id 
Lives — Brothers  and   Sisters  of  St.   Tressan — He 
leaves     Ireland    for     France — His    First    humble 
Occupation  there — Opposition  to  the' Saint,   and 
Vindication  of  his  Innocence         ...  ...       3;  6 

Chap.  II. — St.    Tressan  is  ordained  Priest — His  Virtues — His 

•    Residence  at  Marvilie — His  Labours  and  Manner 

of  living— Miracles    at    Murigny— His  last  Illness 

and  Death— Disposal  of  his  Remains — His  Festival, 

Office  and  Memorials —Conclusion  ...       380 

Article  II. — St.  Lomman,  of  Portloman,  County  of  Westmeath.    [Sixth  Century,]      383 

Article  III. — St,  Augulus,  Augurius,  or  Augulius,  Bishop  of  Augusta,  in  Britain. 

[Third or  Fourth  Century.]        ...  ...  ...       387 

Article  IV. — St,  Medan,  Mellan,  Meldan,  or  Meallan  Mac  Ui  Cuinn,  of  Inis 
Mac-Ui-Cuinn,  now   Inchiquin,   in  Loch   Oirbsen,   now  Lough. 
Corrib,  County  of  Gal  way.     [Sixth  and  Seventh  Centuries.]        ...       391 
Article  V. — St.  Aid,  Aedh,  or  Aldus,  Bishop  of  Sieaty,  Queen's  County.    [Seventh 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       394 

Article  VI. — St.  Ronan,  Bishop  and  Confessor,  Scotland.     [Seventh  Century.] ...       395 
Article  VII. — Saints  Lonan,  Criotan  and  Miolan,  called  likewise,  the  three  Sons 
of  Daire,  of  Moin-Miolain,  perhaps,  INIonamolin,  County  of  Wex- 
ford ...  ...  ...  ...      397 

Article  VIII. — St.  Brigid,  Daughter  of  Doma  or  Droma  ...  ...       398 

Article  IX.— St,  Colman,  Bishop  ...  ...  ...      399 

Article  X.— St.  Colman,  Bishop  ...  ...  ...       399 

Article  XL— St.  Fionntain,  Priest,  of  Clonkeen,  probably  Kill  of  the  Grange, 

County  Dublin  ...  ...  ...       399 

Article  XII. — St.  Maenucan  or  Maonacan,  of  Ath-liag,  or  Ath-league,  County  of 

Roscommon     ...  ...  ...  ...       401 

Article  XIII. — Reputed  Festival  of  a  St.  Cormac,  Junior,  Bishop  of  Trim.    [Said 

to  have  lived  in  the  Eighth  Century,]  ...  ...       401 

Article  XIV.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Altho,  Founder  of  Alt-Munster,  Bavaria. 

[Eighth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       40 1 


(Si'sfitl)  Bap  of  jfefiiniarp* 


Article  I.— St.  Oncho,  or  Onchuo,  Confessor,  of  Clonmore,  County  of 
Carlow.    [Sixth  or  Seventh  Century,] 


CONTENTS. 


'  Page 

Chap.  I. — Introduction — St.  Onchuo's  Birth-place  and  Family — 
Doublful  Statements  regarding  him  — His  Study  of 
Poetry  and  Antiquities — He  visits  St.   Finian  the 
Leper — Desire  to  collect  the  Relics  o(  Irish  Saints — 
St.  Onchuo's  Travels  for  this  Purpose  ...       402 

ChAP.II. — St.Onchuo  arrives  at  Clonmore — His  Request  preferred, 
to  the  Abbot,  St.  Maidoc—  A  Miracle — St.  Onchuo's 
Death  and    Burial,   at  Clonmore — Time  when  he 
flourished — Notices    of  him,    in   the   Calendars — 
Conclusion  ...  ...  ...       406 

Article  II. — St.  Mac  Liac  or  Mac  Liag,  Bishop  of  Liath-Dromma  or  Leitrim    ...      409 
Article  III. — St.  Trenog  or  Ternoc,  Anchorite,  on  the  West  of  the  River  Barrow      410 
Article  IV. — St.  Failbhe,  of  Erdomh  ...  ...  ...      410 

Article  v.— St.  Ruidhche  or  Ruidche,  Virgin  ...  ...  ...      411 

Article  VI. — St.  Cera,  Virgin   ..  ...  ...  ...      411 

Article  VII.— St.  Fiachra,  Abbot  of  Congbhail  Gleanna  Suilighe,  or  Conwall, 

County  of  Donegal  ...  ...  ...       412 

Article  VIII. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Tressan,  or  Tresan,  Confessor,  at  Avenay, 

France.     [Sixth  Century. '\  ...  ...  ...       413 

Article  IX.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Burchard,  Bishop  of  Wurtzburgh.     [Eighth 

Century.]  ...  ,.,  ...  ...       413 

Article  X.— St.   Colman,   Mac-Ui-7ealduibh,  Bishop,   and  Abbot  of  Clonard, 

County  of  Meath.     [Sixth  or  Seventh  Century.]  ..       414 

Article  XI.  —Reputed  Festival  of  Saints  Gislarius,  a  Priest,  and  Chunibaldus, 
Companions  of    St.    Rupert,    Bishop    of    Saltzburgh,    Bavaria. 
[Sixth  or  Seventh  Century.]       ...  ...  ...       414 

Article  XII.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.    Giinibald,  Martyr  and  Pilgrim,    Italy. 

[Fifth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...      414 


^mtft  JDap  of  jftiniarp* 


Article  I.— The  Blessed  Marianus   Scotus,  or   St.   Muiredhac,  Mac 
RoBAKTAiG,   Benedictine  Abbot  of  Ratisbon,   Bavaria. 
[Eleventh  Century.  \ 

Chap.  I.— Introduction — Acts  of  Marianus  Scotus— His  family 
Name  and  Origin — His  early  Education  and  Dis- 
positions— He   leaves    Ireland,    with    some    Com- 
panions— Marianus  arrives  in  Germany,  and  settles 
in  Ratisbon — His  Course  of  Studies  antl  Exercises 
there — A  Miracle  regarding  him  recorded  ...       415 

Chap.  II. — The  Blessed  Marianus  proposes  to  resume  his  Pilgrim- 
age— He     is    miraculously   warned    to    remain    at 
Ratisbon — The  Writings  of  Marianus — He  obtains 
a  Grant  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  and  Means  to  erect 
a  Monastery  there — Disciples  seek  him  out  from 
Ireland — Dispersion  ol  his  Companions  -  His  feast 
Day  and    Death  —  Miracle  at   his   Tomb  —  Irish 
Monasteries  founded  after  his  Time,  in  Germany — 
Conclusion  ...  ...       421 

Article  II.— St.  Cronan,  the  Wise,  Bishop.     [Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...      428 

Article  III. — Cruimther  Finne,  of  Druim  Licce,  now  probably  Drumlease,  County 

of  Leitrim         ...  ...  ...       433 

Article  IV.— Festivd  of  the  Second  Deposition  of  St.  Fursey's  Relics.    [Seventh 

Century.]  ..  ...  ...  ...       437 

Article  V.— St.  Colman,  of  Cluain  Eraird,  or  Clonard,  County  of  Meath.    [Possibly 

in  the  Seventh  Century.]  ...  ..  ..        442 

Article  VI. — St.  Caireach  or  Cairec  Dergain,  Virgin  of  Cluain-  Boirinn,  now  Clon- 
barren,     Parish    of    Moore,    County    of    Roscommon.       [Sixth 
Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       443 

Article  VII.— St.  Ronan,  Bishop  of  Lismore.      [Possibly  in  the  Eighth  Century.]       444 
Article  VIII.— St.  Attracta,  Virgin,  of  Killaraght,  County  of  Sligo.     [Fifth  or 

Sixth  Century.]  ..  ...  ...       444 

Article  IX.— Feast  of  St.  Tnrahata.    [Probably  in  the  Fifth  or  Sixth  Century.]   ..      445 
Article  X.— Feast   o     St.  Eada,    a   Priest.      [Possibly  in  the  Sixth   or   Seventh 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       445 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
Article  XL— Reputed   Feast  of  St.    Erhard,    Bishop    of   Ratisbon.       \_Sevinth 

Century.']  ...  ...  ...  ...       445 

Article  XII, — Reputed  Festival  of  Blessed  Magilmumensis        ...  ...       446 

Article  XIII.  — St.  Alto,  Bishop  and  Founder  of  Altminster,  in  Bavaria.   {Eighth 

Cenluty]  ...  ...  ...  ...       446 

Article  XIV.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Trumwin,  Bishop  of  the  Picts.      [Sevenlh 

Century. 1  ...  ...  ...  ...      446 


Centl)  3Bap  of  jfebruarp^ 


Article  I.— St.  Cronan,  or  Mochua,  Abbot,  and  Patron  of  Clashmore 
Parish,  County  of  Waterford.    {Sixth  and  Seventh   Cen- 
turies ^ 

Chap.  I. — Introduction— Acts  of  St.  Cronan,  or  St.  Mochua — 
His  Parentage  and  Birth — His  Religious  Profession 
under  St.  Carthage — Placed  over  Cluain-Dachran — 
St.  Cronan  removes  to  I-ismore  with  St.  Carthage — 
He  is  appointed  to  rule  a  Community,    at   Glass- 
more,  or  Clashmore  ...  ...       447 

Chap.  II. — Doubt  regarding  St.  Cronan's  Connexion  with  Glass- 
more,    near  Swords— Another  St.   Cronan  and  his 
Monks  thought  to  have  been  martyred  there  by  the 
Danes — Notices   of    his   Festival,    by  the    Calen- 
darists — Clashmore    Abbey     suppressed,    and    its 
Lands  granted  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh — Conclusion         449 
Article  II. — St.  Sillan  or  Siollan,  Bishop  of  Glendalough,  County  of  Wicklow. 

{Probably  diiritig  the  Seventh  or  Eighth  Century. ]  ...       452 

Article  III. — Reputed  Festival  of  a  Blessed  Ingenoc,  Abbot  of  St.  Bertin,  France.       453 
Article  IV.— The   Blessed    Muireadhach    O'Cobhthaich,    Bishop    of    Ardstraw. 

{Twelfth  Century. ]  ...  ...  ...       453 

Article  V.— Reputed  Feast  of  a  St.  Kilian,  at  Kilcullsheen,  or  Kilkilihine,  County 

Kilkenny  ...  ...  ...  ...       455 

Article  VI. — St.    Airennan,    Bishop   of  Tallagh,    County   of    Dublin.     {Eighth 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  '     ...       455 

Article  VII. — St.  .Moduit  of  Cill  Moduit,  in  Hy-Maine,  County  of  Galway.       ...      456 

Article  VIII. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Erlulph,  Bishop  of  Verden,  and  Martyr. 

{Ninth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       456 

Article  IX. — St.  Becga,  or  Bega,  Virgin,  and  Daughter  of  Gabhran.      [Probably 

in  the  Filth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       45^ 

Article  X.— St.  Derlugha,  or  Darluga,  Virgin,  of  Lemmagh,  now  probably  Lawny 

or  Lavvoy,  County  oi  Cavan      ...  ...  ...       457 

Article  XL — St.  Trumwin  or  Tumma,  Bishop  of  the  Southern  Picts.     {Seventh 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...      459 


(SItbentfi  JDap  of  jfebruarp^ 


Article  I.— St.  Gobnata  or  Gobnet,  Virgin,  and  Abbess  ofBurneach,  ok 
Ballyvourney,  County  of  Cork.    {Sixth  Century.] 
Chap.  I. — Introduction — Descent    of    St.    Gobnet — St.    Abban 
places  her  over  a  Community,    at  I  ballyvourney — 
Legend   relative  to  her  Sister — Traditions  regard- 
ing St.  Gobnet — Her  Establishment  at  Ballyvourney      46^ 
Chap.  IL — Antiquities   at    Ballyvourney — St.    Gobnat's  Virtues 
and    Death — Legends  relating  to  her — Places  and 
Objects  dedicated  to  her  Memory — Her  Festival — 
Conclusion  ...  ...  ...       466 

Article  IL— St.   Etchaenius,    Eichen,    Ecian   or   Echen,    Bishop  and  Patron  of 
Cluain-Foda,  now  Clonfad,  Parish  of  Killucan,  County  of  ^^  est- 
meath.     {Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       470 

Article  III. — St    Canoe  or  Mochonoc,    Pilgrim,   and  Abbot  of  Gallen,   King's 

County,  and  of  Killmuccraisse.     {Fijth  or  Sixth  Century.]         ...      475 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
Article  IV. — St.  Duban,  Priest  and  Pilgrim,  at  Rath  Dubhain,  or  Rinn  Dubhain, 

now  Hook,  County  of  Wexford.     [^Fi/th  or  Sixth  Century.']       ...  478 

Article  V. — St.  Cognat,  Virgin,  of  Eamaidhe,  or  Umey              ...                         ...  479 

Article  VI. — St.  Jarlath  or  Hierlkth,  Arclibishop  of  Armagh.    [Fifth  Century.}  ...  481 

Article  VII.— St.  Dicull           ...                       ...                       ...                       ...  484 

Article  VIII. — St.  Lappan,  Son  of  Ciaran        ...                        ...                        ...  484 

Article  IX.— St.  Brigid,  Virgin                           ...                        ...                        ...  484 

Article  X.— St.  Luchta,  of  Ath-ferna  or  Aghafarnan,  County  of  Meath               ...  484 

Article  XI. — St.  Betta,  First  Apostle  of  tlie  Mercians.     [Seventh  Century. "l         ...  485 

Article  XII. — St.  Conon,  of  Kilmacumsy,  County  of  Roscommon  ...  485 
Article  XIII.— St.   Jarlaithe,    Patron    of  the   Archdiocese  of   Tuam.       [Sixth 

Century.]            ...                            ..                             ...                            ...  485 

Article  XIV.— St.  Mogoboc  or  Goban,  of  Rath  lampaighe        ...                        ...  485 

Article  XV.— St.  Senach,  Priest,  of  Cealla  Ua  Maigheach          ...                        ...  486 

Article  XVL— Festival   of  St.   Finan,    Finnian,   Fennia  or   Findia,    Bishop   of 

Moville,  County  of  Down.     [Sixth  Century.]     ...                         ...  486 


Ctoelftl)  jaap  ot  jfehniarp* 


Article  I. — St.  Sedulius,  or  Siadiial,  or  Sheil,  Bishop  of  Dublin,  with 

other  holy  and  learned  Irishmen,   bearing  a  similar 

Name.     [From  the  Fifth  to  the  Ninth  Century.] 

Chap.  I. — Introduction — Origin  of  the  Name  Siadhal  or  Shiel — 

Sedulius,   Bishop   of    Dublin — Opinions  regarding 

him — His  Death  ...  ...  ..       487 

Chap.   II. — Caius  Cselius  Sedulius — The  Obscurity  of  his  His- 
tory— Controversies     regarding   the    Place    of    his 
Birth —PI is   early  Education — The  Time  when  he 
flourished — His  European  Travels — Rank  he  held 
in  the  Church — His  Genius  as  a  Poet  and  Theolo- 
gian— His    Writings — Various  Editions  of  them — 
Eulogies    of   different    Authors    regarding  them — 
His  Death  ..  ..  ...       489 

Chap.  III. — Another  Scottish  Sedulius,  a  "Bishop  of  the  Eighth 
Century — His  History,  so  far  as  known — Sedulius, 
Abbot  of  Linnduachuil — Sedulius,    of   Lismore — 
Sedulius,   Abbot  of  Kinn  Locha — Sedulius,  called 
the  Younger,  and  his  Writings — Sedulius,    Abbot 
and  Bishop  of  Roscommon — Sedulius  or  Siadhal,  of 
Castlekieran — Other    remarkable  Persons,   bearing 
the  Name  Sedulius,  Siadhal  or  Shiel — Conclusion  500 

Article  IL— St.  Fethgna  or  Factna,  Archbishop  of  Armagh.     [Ninth  Century.]...       503 
Article  III. — St.  Simplex,  Bishop  of  Cill  Moduind,  now  Kilmude,  in  Hy-Many, 

County  of  Galway  ...  ...  ...       $o\ 

Article  IV. — Semplex  and  Daman,  with  martyred  Companions...  ...       505 

Article  V. — St.  Conin  or  Coinin,  Bishop  ...  ...  ...       505 

Article  VI. — St.  Fionan,  Son  of  Erannan.     [Seventh  Century.]  ...  ...      505 

Article  VII. — St.  Cummain  or  Cummein,  of  Gleann-Mona  ...  ...       $06 

Article  VIII. — St.  Lugaidh,  of  Cuil-ruscach,  in  Breifne.  ...  ...       506 

Article  IX. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Gobnet  or  Gobnata,  Abbess  at  Ballyvourney, 

County  of  Cork.     [Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...       5^6 

ArticleX.— St.  Beologo,  Priest,  of  Cluain-Dartadha.  ...  ...       506 

Article  XI.— St.  Aedhan,  of  Cluain  Dartaighe  ...  ..  ...*     507 

ArticleXII.— St.  Aedh,  Sonof  Feradhach       ...  ...  ...       5^7 

Article  XIII.— St.  Cronan        ...  ...  ...  ...      507 

Article  XIV.— St.  Daman  of  Tigh  Damain,  or  Tidowan,  in  Ui-Criomhlhannain, 

Queen's  County  ...  ...  ...       5^7 

Article  XV.— St.    Forannan,    Abbot  of  Clonard,    County  of  Meath.       [Eighth 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       SoS 

Article  XVI. — St.  Ludan,  or  Ludanus,  Pilgrim,  Diocese  of  Strasburgh.     [Tweljth 

and  Thirteenth  Centuries.]  ...  ...  ...       5^8 

Article  XVII.— St.  Maneteus,  Abbot,  in  Scotland  ...  ...       510 

Article  XVIII.— Reputed    Festival    of    St.    Cadoc,    of    Lanncarven.      [Sixth 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       %\Q 


CONTENTS. 


Cftirteentfi  Dap  of  jfebniarp* 


jfifteenti)  Bag  of  jfeiruarp. 


Page 


Article  I. — St.  Domnoc,  Dominicus  or  Modomnoc,  Patron  of  Tibuer- 

AGHNY,  AND  FiDDOWN,  CoUNTY  KILKENNY.      [^Sixth  Ceftiury.] 

CliAP.  I. — Introduction — Acts  of  St,  Domnoc  or  Modomnoc — 
His  Pedigree — He  goes  over  to  Wales — A  Disciple 
of  St.  David — Appointed  Dee-Keeper  at  Menosvia — 
St.    David  rescues    him   from  Danger — He  leaves 
for    Ireland,    and  the  Bees  follow  him — They  are 
left  at  Lann  Beachaire  ...  ...       510 

Chap.  II. — Enquiry  regarding  Bees  and  Honey  having  been  in 
Ireland    from  the  earliest  known  Times — St.  Mo- 
domnoc settles  at  a  Place,  formerly  called  Tiprad- 
fachtna,    and    now    known    as    Tibberaghny — Its 
Antiquities — His  supposed  Rank  in  the  Church — 
His  Natalis  and  Time  of  his  Death — Conclusion  ...       513 
Article  II. — Festival  of  a  reputed  St.  Domhangin  ...  ...       516 

Article  III. — Festival  of  St.  Conan,  or  Canoe,  Pilgrim,  Abbot  of  Gallen,  King's 

County,  and  of  Kilmuccraise.     \^Ftftk  or  Sixth  Ceitturv-^  ...       516 

Article  IV. — St.  Ermen,  Virgin  ...  ...  ...       516 

Article  V. — St.  Darcus  ...  ...  ...  ...       516 

Article  VI. — St.  Cuachnat,  or  Cruachnat,  Virgin,  of  Ros-raithe  ...       516 

Article  VII. — St.  Columbanus,  or  Columban,  Abbot  and  Recluse,  at  Ghent,  in 

Belgium,     \_lhith  Century.'\      ...  ...  ...       517 

Article  VIII. — St.  Fionan,  said  to  have  been  of  Druim-Neoid,  or  Dromhabrad...       518 
Article  IX. — Feast  of  St.  Kilian,  Martyr,  and  Patron  of  Wurtzburgh.     \_Sevenih 

Century:\  ...  ...  ...  ...       519 

Article  X. — Feast  of  the  Translation  of  the  Relics  of  St.   Livinus,  Bishop  and 

Martyr,  at  Ghent.     [Sevcnt/i  Centuty.']  ...  ...       519 


jfourteenti;  Bap  of  jfeiruarp* 

Article  I.— St.  Manchan,  Abbot  of  Mohill,  County  Leitrim,  [Probably  in 

the  Sez'eiith  Century. \  ...  ...  ...  519 

Article  II. — St.  Cellach,  or  Kellach,  Bishop  and  Confessor.   _  \Seventh  Centttry.']  524 
Article  III. — St.  Caomhan,  Convan,  Conan  or  Coman,  Missionary  in  the  Orkney 

Islands,  Scotland  ...  ...  ...  527 

Article  IV. — St.  Colman,  Bishop  ...  ...  ...  533 

Article  v.— St.  Sineach,  of  Srath  ...  ...  ...  533 

Article  VI. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Gobnat,  of  Ballyvourney,  County  of  Cork. 

[Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...  •  •  533 

Article  VII. — Saints  Valentine  and  Marcellus,  with  Companions,  Martyrs  ...  534 


Article  I.— St.   Berach    or  Berachius,    Abbot,    Patron    of    Kilbarrv, 
County  of  Roscommon.     [Sixth  or  Seventh  Century.] 
Chap.  I. — Introduction — Prophecy  of  St.  Patrick  regarding   St. 
Berach — x\cts  of  this  holy  Man — His  Family  and 
Birth — Baptism     and    Fosterage,    by    his    Uncle, 
Cruimhther  Froech — His  early  Education — Sent  to 
St.  Dagoeus  for  further  Instruction — Miracles   and 
Merits  of  St.  Berach  ...  ...       534 

Chap.  II. — St.  Berach  is  recommended  by  St.  Dagceus  to  place 
himself  under     St.    Kevin — His  Journey   through 
Crich  Rois  and  Bregia — He  arrives  at  Glendalough, 
where  he  is   joyfully  received  by  St.  Kevin — His 
Noviceship  and  Miracles,  while  there — St.  Berach 
receives  an  Angelic  Admonition  to  remove    from 
St.  Kevin's  Monastery  ...  ...       538 

Chap.  Ill — St.  Berach's  Departure  from  Glendalough— He  sets 
out  in  a  direct  Course  for  Cluain-Coirpthe — Dispute 
with  a  Magus— Both  are  referred  to  /Edan,  King  of 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
•  Scotland — Return  to  Ireland — St.  Berach  founds  a 

Cell    at   Dubheraith — Description    of    KUbanach, 
County  of  Dublin  ...  ...       542 

Chap.  IV. — St.  Berach  j^oes  to   Cluain-Coirpthe — Legend  con- 
cerning his  Contest  with  the  Magus — He  founds  a 
Monastery,  at  a  Place  afterwards  called  Kilbarry — 
His  Miracles — Period  assigned  for  his  Death — His 
Veneration — Conclusion  ...  ...       546 

Article  II.— St.  Farannan,  Confessor,  and  Patron  of  Allfarannan, 
NOW  Alternan,   Parish  of  Easkey,   County    of  Sligo. 
[^Sixth  Century. '\ 

Chap.  I. — Introduction — Old  Irish  Life  of  St.   Farannan — His 
Acts — St.  Columkille  and  the  Convention  at  Drum- 
ceat — Its  probable  Site  ...  ...       55^ 

Chap.  II. — St.   Columkille    procures  the   Release  of  Scanlan, 
Prince  of  Ossory — St.   Columba's  spiritual  Jurisdic- 
tion— At   Easdra  he  meets   various  holy  Men  and 
"Women,  at  a  public  Assembly       ...  ...       557 

Chap.  III. — St.  Farannan  and  many  holy  Persons  at  the  Dnmi- 
ceat  Convention — Tibraid  grants  Land  and  endows 
three     Churches — One     of      these,     Alt-Faranain 
served  by  our  Saint — His  Manner  of  living  there — 
His  Death,    Festival,   and  popular  Veneration  for 
his  Memory — Conclusion  ...  ...       5^^ 

Article  III.— Feast  of  St.  Dichul,  Abbot  of  Lure.    [Sixth  and  Seventh  Centuries.']      565 
Article  IV. — St.  Fergus,  or  Ferghas,  Son  of  Aedh,  or  Aengus  ..  ...       565 

Article  V. — Reputed  Fe; -t  of  St.  Eruaki,  Ervvald,  Arnwal,  or  Arnual,  in  Fran- 

conia.     y/'/obably  about  the  Seventh  Century."]     ...  ...       5^5 

Article  VI.— Festival  of  Holy  Martyrs  ...  ...  ...      565 

Article  VII.— Festival  of  the  Blessed  Richard  Fitz  Ralph,  Archbishop  of  Armagh. 

[Fourteenth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       5^^ 

Article  VIII.— Reputed  Feast  of  St.  Columban,  Abbot  and  Recluse  at  Ghent. 

[7enth  Century.]  ...  -    ...  ...       566 

Article  IX.— Reputed  Festival  ot  a  St.  Darerca  ...  ...      5^6 


Article  I.— St.  Tanchon,  or  Tanco,  Martyr  and  Third  Bishop  of  Ver. 

DEN,  IN  Saxonv.     [Eighth  and  Ninth  Centuries?^  ...  567 
Article  II. — St.   Aedh  Glas,    Bishop,  of    Rath   na  n-Epscop,  or  Rathnaspick. 

[Possibly  in  the  Fifth  or  Sixth  Century.]              ...  ...  569 

Article  III. — St.  .^nghas,  or  CEnT;us,    Bishop,  of  Rath  na  n-Epscop,  or  Rath- 
naspick.     [Probably  in  the  Sixth  Century.]         ...  ...  57^ 

Article  IV. — St.  Roibne,  or  Robni,  Abliot        ...                        ...  ...  571 

Article  V. — St.  Beroiius,  or  Berasius,  Bishop    ...                        ...  ...  572 

Article  VI.— St.  Berchan,  Confessor                  ...                       ...  ...  572 

Article  VIL — Reputed  Feast  of  St.  Fechin,  of  Lemmaigh          ...  ...  572 

Article  V in.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Finan,  Bishop.     [Seventh  Century.]  ...  572 

Article  IX. — St  Babol en.  Abbot  of  P*ossey,  Belgium.     [Seventh  Century.]  ...  573 

Article  X.— Festival  of  St.  Julian                      ...                      ...  ...  573 


^rbenteentl)  JDap  of  jftlintarp. 

Article  I.— St.  Fintan,  Abbot   and   Patron   of   Clonenagh,   Queen's 
County.     [Sixth  Century.] 

Chap.  I. — Introduction— Acts  of  St.  Fintan  — His  Parentage — 
Miracle  preceding  his  Birth — Period  when  this 
occurred — Clonkeen — St.  Fintan's  Baptism  and 
early  Education — He  lives  for  some  Time  under 
St.  Cohiniba  Mac  Crimthainn  at  Tirdaglas— Accom- 
panied   by   the    latter  holy  Man,   and   with   two 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
Disciples,  St.  Fintan  visits,  the  Site  of  Clonenagh, 
and  selects  it  for  his  Place  of  Habitation  ...       574 

Chap.  II. — Cromoyue,  or  Cremogue — St.  Fintan's  strict  Rule  at 
Clonenagh — Various     Miracles    wrought    by    him 
while  there — His  Spirit  of  Prophecy  ...       581 

Chap.  III. — St.   Fintan    heals  an  infirm    Man— His   nocturnal 
Prayers  — He  procures  the  Release  from  Captivity  of 
Corm;ic,  a  Prince  of  Hy-Kinsellagh — Fergna,  Son 
of  Cobhtach — St.  Fintan  visits  Achadh  Finglass — 
The  ancient  Book  of  Clonenagh   ...  ...       586 

Chap.  IV.— St.  Fiulan's  Virtues  and  Accomplishments — He  is 
styled  a  Bishop  as  well  as  an  Abbot— Departure  of 
two    Brothers    at    Clonenagh — St.  Fintan  recom- 
mended by   St.  Columkille  as  a  holy  Father  Con- 
fessor— Death  of  St.  Fintan — Day  of  his  Feast — 
Veneration  paid  to  his  Memory — Churches   dedi- 
cated to  him— Conclusion  ...  ...       592 

Article  II. — St.  Cormac,  Archbishop  of  Armagh.     \_FiJth  Century. "]  ...       598 

Article  III. — St.  Loman,  or  Luman,  said  to  have  been  the  first  Bishop,  at  Trim. 

\^Fifth  Century.'\  ...  ...  ...       601 

Article  IV. — St.  Fortchem,  said  to  have  been  second  Bishop,  at  Trim.     \Fiftk 

and  Sixth  Centuries. '\  ...  ...  ...       603 

Article  V.— St.   Patrick  Hosliarius  or  Ostiarius,  at  Trim  ...  ...       603 

Article  VI. — St.  Lurech  or  Lurecus  Mac  Cuanach,  at  Trim        ...  ...       604 

Article  VII. — St.  Coelochtra  or  Caslus-Ochtra,  at  Trim  ...  ...       604 

Article  VIII.— St.  Conan,  at  Trim  ...  ...  ...       604 

Article  IX. — St.  Cuimaen  or  Coman,  a  Bishop,  at  Trim  ...  ...       604 

Article  X. — St.  Lactean  or  Lactan,  a  Priest,  at  Trim  ...  ...       604 

Article  XI. —  St.  Lactean  or  Lactan,  a  Bishop,  at  Trim  ,  ...  ...       604 

Article  XII.— St.  Saran,  at  Trim  ...  ...  ...      604 

Article  XIII.— St.  Conaill  or  Conall,  at  Trim  ...  ...  ...       605 

Article  XIV.— St.  Colman,  at  Trim  ...  ...  ...       605 

Article  XV. — St.  Fiusecha,  or  Finnsegh,  Virgin  ...  ...      605 

Article  XVI.— St.  Cormac,  Bishop  of  Ath-Truim,  now  Trim,  County  of  Meath. 

[Seventh  and  Eighth  Centuries.^  ...  ...       605 

Article  XVII.— St.    Ossan,   Bishop  of  Rathossain,   County  of  Meath.     {Seventh 

Century. 1  ...  ...  ...  ...       607 

Article  XVIII.  —St.  Ossan,  supposed  to  be  a  Priest,  buried  in  Trim.       {Probably 

Seventh  and  Eighth  Centuries.'\  ...  ...  ...       60S 

Article  XIX.— The  Saint.s,  called  Aid  or  Aedh,  buried  at  Trim...  ...      608 

Article  XX.  — St.  Miodhu,  Son  of  Fachtna        ...  ...  ...      609 

Article  XXL— St.  Dochoiina,  Son  of  Odhran    ...  ...  ...       609 

ArticleXXIL— St.  Brelach,  Sonof  Fithcheallach  ...  •••       609 

ArticleXXIIL— St.  Feicellaigh  ...  ...  ...       609 

Article  XXIV.— St.  Roibne,  Bishop  ...  ...  ...      609 

Article  XXV.— St.  Gobnat,  of  Ballybooly         ...  ...  ••      609 

Article  XXVI. —St.  Finan,  Bishop'of  Lindisfarne,  England.     [Seventh  Century.}      610 
Article  XXVIL— St.  Dnchonna  or  Machonna   ...  ...  •••       611 

Article  XXVIIL  — Reputed  Festival  of  a  St.  Ronan,  Bishop  of  the  Scots.    {Fifth 

and  Sixth  Centuries.'\  ...  ...  .        6l2 

Article  XXIX.— St.  Silvin,  reputed  to  be  an  Irish  Bishop,  at  Alciac,  or  Auchy, 

in  Belgium.     {Seventh  and  Eighth  Centuries. '\    ...  ..        612 

Article  XXX.— St.  Lurach,   of  the    Poems,    Bishop  of  Derryloran,    County  of 

Londonderry.     {Sixth  Century. 1  ...  ...      616 


Ci'Sfitftntl)  Bap  of  Jfrbniar)?* 

Article  t.— St.  Colman,  Blshop  of  Ard-Bo,  County  Tyrone.     {Probably  in 

the  Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       618 

Article  II. — St.  Dacualenus  or  Culanus,  Bishop  of  Killcuilawn,  County  of  Tip- 

perary.     {Possibly  in  the  Seventh  Century.]         ...  ...       620 

Article  ITL— St.  Nem,  Bishop  of  Drum  Berthach  ...  ...       624 

Article  IV.— St.  Libha,  or.Molibba,  of  Annahilt,  County  of  Down  ...       627 

Article  V. — St.  Daniel,  Bishop  of  Ceann-garad,   now  Kingarth,  in  Bute,    Scot- 
laud.     [Seventh  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       62S 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
Article  VI. — St.  Lassair,  or  Lasera,  or  Laisre,  Virgin,  of  Ghlionn-meadhoin, 

County  of  Antrim  ...  ...  ...       628 

Article  VII.— St.  Berach  ...  ...  ...  ...      629 

Article  VIII. — St.  Uidhrin  or  Huidhrin  of  Druim-dresna  or  Drum-dresa  ...      629 

Article  IX. — St.  Aengus,  or  CEngus,  Bishop  of  Drum-Rathe      ...  •••      630 


f^\\\tim\\\)  2Ba|)  of  jfetuniarp* 

Article  I.— St.  Odran,   or  Odhran,    of   Disert-Odhrain,    in    Offaly, 

King's  County,  Martyr.     \Fifth  Century.l  ...  ...      631 

Article  II. — St.  Baoithin  or  Baetin,  Bishop,  of  Taech  Baoithin,  or  Taghboyne, 

County  Westmeath.     [Sixth  Century.l  ...  ...       634 

Article  III. — St.  Nuad,  St.  Nuada  or  Nodtat,  Archbishop  of  Armagh.      \Eiqhth 

ami  A^inth  Centii7-ies.'\  ...  ...  ...       637 

Article  IV,— St.    Maeldobharchon,    or    Maeldobhorchon,    Bishop    of   Kildare, 

County  of  Kilflare.     [Seventh  ami  Eighth  Centuries.']  ...       639 

Article  V. — Saints  Eugene,  Connall  and  Carbre,  of  Tegh  Mac  Nemain  ...       639 

Article  VI. — St.  Fechin  Mac  Ua  Chainche,  of  Lemmach,  now  probably  Lawny 

or  Lavvoy,  County  of  Cavan     ...  ...  ...       639 

Article  VII. — Reputed  Festival  of  a  Translation  of  the  Relics  of  St.  Gall,  at  St. 

Gall,  Switzerland  ...  ...  ...       640 

Article  VIII. — St.  Acca,  Bishop  of  Hexham,  England.  [Eighth  Century.]  ...  640 
Article  IX. — The    Blessed    Bodeca,    or    Dudoco,    Bishop    of   Bath,    England. 

[Eleventh  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       640 

Article  X. — Reputed  Festival  of  a  St.  Gero  or  Geron,  Cologne.  [Tenth  Century.]  641 
Article  XI. — St.  Daigh,  or  Diigaeus,  Bishop      ...  ...  ...      641 


CtoeututI)  Bap  of  jfebruarg* 

Article  I.— St.   Colga,   Abbot  of  Lusk,   County  of  Dublin.      [Sez'enth 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       642 

Article  II. — St.  Olcan  or  Bolcan,  Bishop  of  Armoy,  County  of  Antrim.     [Fi/tk 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       643 

Article  III. — Reputed  Feast  of  St.  Cogan,  or  Congan,  Abbot.      [Probably  in  the 

Sixth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...       648 

Article  IV. — St.  Cronan  ...  ...  ...  ...      648 

Article  V. — St.  Gains  and  Thirty  Companions,  Martyrs  ...  ..       649 

Article  VI. — Reputed  Festival  of  Caius  Crelius  Sedulius  ...  ...       649 

Article  VII. — Reputed  Festival  of  the  Translation  of  St.   Pantaleon's  Head,  at 

Cologne  ...  ...  ...  ...       649 

Article  VIII. — St.  Colga,  or  Colcho,  surnamed  the  Wise,  Lector  of  Clonmac- 

noise.  King's  County.     [Eighth  Century.]  ...  ...       649 

Article  IX. — Reputed  Translation  of  St.  Gall's  Relics,  Switzerland  ...      655 


Ctoentg4'rsit  JBap  of  Jfefiniarp* 

Article  I. — St.  Colman,  Bishop  and  Confessor  of  Ard-Bo,  County  of 

Tyrone.     [Probably  in  the  Sixth  Century.]       ...  ...  655 

Article  II. — St.  Fintan,  Abbot  and  Bishop  of  Clonfert.       ['Probably  in  the  Sixth 

Century.]  ...  ...  ...  ...  657 

Article  III. — St.  Cronan,  of  Cill  Beg,  or  Kilbeg  ...  ...  660 

Article  IV. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Cedd,  Abbot  of  Lestingen,  England  ...  662 

Article  v.  — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Chuniald   ...  ...  ...  662 

Article  VI. — St.  Ursin  or  Ursicinus,  a  Monk,  in  France  ...  ...  663 

Article  VII.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Gildas  the  Wise  ...  ...  663 


CONTENTS. 


Ctoentp^-sferonlr  Dap  of  jfebniarp* 

Page 

Article  I.— St.    Moel-Brigid,    or   Brigidanus,    Abbot   of   Derry   and 

Primate  OF  Armagh.     \Ninth  and  Tenth  Cenhirics.'\  ...  663 

Article  II.— St.  Fechin,  a  Priest  ...  ...  ...  668 

Article  III.— St.  Moelan  of  Achadh  Gobhra      ...  ...  ...  668 

Article  IV. — St.  Caemhan,  of  Magh-macdodon,  or  Magh  Mennoite  ...  668 

Article  V. — St.  Midabaria,  Miadhnat  or  Miodhabhair,  of  Ard-drochait  or  Rinn- 

droichit  ...  ...  ...  ...  669 

Article  VI, — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Marnokdubus  or  Marnokdubh,  Scotland    ...  669 

Article  VII. — St.  Gurnin,  or  Guirminn,  Daughter  of  Cugheala  or  Conghail  ...  670 
Article  VIII. — Festivals  of  St.  Peter's  Chair,  at  Antioch,  of  the  Birth  of  St. 

Laurence,  and  of  St.  Tecla        ...  ...  ...  670 

Article  IX. — Festival  of  St.  Dima  or  Dioma,  First  missionary  Bishop  among  the 

Mercians  and  Midland  Angles.     \Seventh  Century. '\  ...  670 

Article  X. —Reputed   Festival  of  a   St.    Brixius,    Bishop    of    ]\Ioray,    Scotland 

S^T%vclfth  and  Thirteenth  Centnries.'\  ...  ...  672 


CtDentp4f)ira  Dap  of  jfebniarp* 

Article   I. — St.    Guigner,  Fingar,   or  Finn  Guaire,   with  his  Sister 
Piala,  and  Seven  Hundred  and   Seventy-Seven   Com- 
panions, Martyrs,     ypifth  Century. 1 

Chap.  I. — Introduction — Acts  of  St.  Fingar  and  of   his  Com- 
panion.s — Said  to  have  been  converted  to  the  Faith 
in  the  Time  of  St.  Patrick — Conjectures  regarding 
Fingar's  Parentage — The  Exiles  from  Ireland  pass 
over  to  Britain — Favourably   received  by  a  Chief- 
tain and  his  People — Fingar  separates    from    his 
Companions,  but  the  Place  of  his  Retreat  is  dis- 
covered ...  ...  ...       672 

Chap.    II. — St.  Fingar  returns  to  Ireland — Offered  his  heredi- 
tary Principality  there,  which  he  refuses — He  sets 
out  once  more,  with  Seven  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
Seven   Companions,    including    his   Sister  Piala — 
They  land  in  Cornubia — Their  kind  Treatment  by  a 
Woman  called  Coruria — Theodoric,  King  of  Cor- 
nubia, attacks  and  slaughters  the  Companions   of 
St.  Fingar  ...  ...  ...       676 

Chap.  III. — St.  Fingar  joins  his  Companions,  and  exhorts  them 

to   Constancy — He    is   beheaded    by   Theodoric — 

^  Honours  paid  to  the  Martyrs,  and  Miracles  after 

their  Deatli — Probable   Date  and   Place  of   their 

Martyrdom — Conclusion  ...  ...       678 

Article  II. — Findchadan  or  Fionnchadhan,  of  Ard  "  ...  ...       680 

Article  III. — St.  Ernin  Cass,  of  Leighlin,  County  of  Carlow     ...  ...       681 

Article  IV. — Saints  Mannan  and  Tiaan,  of  Aredh-suird  or  Airiudh  h-Uird         ...       682 
Article  V. — The  Daughters  of  ^nghus,  King  of  Munster.     \_Sixth  Century P[      ...       684 
Article  VI. — Cruimther  Connrach,  or  Conry,  or  Conrius.     \Sixth  Century^       ...       685 
Article  VII.— St.  Colman  or  Columnan  ...  ...  ...      685 

Article  VIII.— St.  Madian,  Bishop  and  Martyr  ...  ...      685 

Article  IX.— Festival  of  St.  Finianus,  or  St.  Finian,  Bishop  of  Clonard,  County 

ofMeath.     [Fifth  and  Sixth  Ce?tturies.'\  ...  ...       686 

Article  X.— St.  Boisil,  Abbot  of  Melrose,  Scotland.     {Sevejith  Century"]  ...       686 

Article  XL — St.  John,  Martyr,  and  Bishop  of  Meckelenburg,  Saxony.    [Eleventh 

Cenkir.y.]  ...  ...  ...  ...       688 

ArticleXIL— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Aldetrudis  ...  ...      689 


Cip'entp4onrtl;  Dap  of  jfebruarp* 

Article  I. — St.  Cummineus  Albus,  Cuimine  Ailbe,  or  Fionn,  Abbot  of 

Ion  A,  Scotland.     [Seventh  Century.]              ...  ...  689 

Article  II. — St.  Heise,  or  Plassea,  Virgin,  of  Airidh-fota,  or  Aredfod  ...  695 

Article  III. — St.  Ciaran  or  Kieranus,  of  Uamh,  or  Vameu        ...  ...  696 


CONTENTS, 


Page 

Article  IV. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Berectus,  a  Monk,  in  Scotland  ...      696 

Article  V. — St.  Mocadoc  or  Cadoc  ...  ...  ...       697 

Article  VI. — Festival  of  Ccecilius  or  Csclius  Sedulius.     \^Fifth  Century^  ...      697 


Article  I.— St.  Cienan,  or  Kenan,  Abbot.  [Probably  in  the  Fifth  Century. "l  697 
Article  II. — St.    Aldetrude,    or   Aldetrudis,  Virgin  and  Abbess  of  Malbod,  or 

Maubeuge,  Belgium.     [Seventh  Century. ^  ...  ...  gg^ 

Article  III.— Reputed  Feast  of  Cailtan,  or  Coelten,  or  Colga,  Monk,  at  Zona, 

Scotland  ...  ...  ...  ,.,  yoi 

Article  IV.— Festival  of  St.  Burchard,  Bishop  of  Wurtzburg,  Germany.    {^Eighth 

Century. '\  ...  ...  ...  -q. 

Article  v.— Festival  of  the  Finding  of  the  Apostle  St,   Paul's  Head,  and  of  the 

Martyr  Teolis  ...  ...  ...  ...  705 

Article  VI.— St.  Croine,  Virgin,  of  Tallagh,  County  of  Dublin...  ...  705 

Article  VII. — St.  Caimsea  or  St.  Caomhsa,  Virgin  ...  ...  705 

Article  VIII.— Feast  of  the  Translation  of  St.  Fursey's  Relics   ...  ...  706 

ArticleIX.— Reputed  Feast  of  Ciaran,  Si  ...  ...  ...  706 


709 
710 


CtDentp-'Sfrtl)  ©ap  of  jfehniarp. 

Article  I. — St.  Enna  or  Ennius,  also  called  Mo-Enna  or  Moen,  Bishop. 

[Sixth  Century.']  ...  ...  ...       *ro6 

Article  II. — St.  Beccan,  or  Becanus,  the  Blind,  probably  of  Kinsealy,  County  of 

Dublin 
Article  III. — Festival  of  Alexander  and  of  Tarcellorus 
Article  IV.— St.  Talmach,  Monk,  supposed  to  be  of  Lough  Irce,  County  of  Cork, 

and  of  Armoric  Britain.     [Sixth  Century.]         ...  ...       711 

Article  V. — St.  ^Edhlug,   or  Aidlugus,   Abbot  of  Clonmacnois,  King's  County. 

[Seventh  Centwy.]  ...  ...  ...       712 

Article  VI.— Reputed  Festival  of  a  St.   Mathilde,   Mathilda,   or  Mechtildis,  a 

Scottish  Virgin.     [Thirteenth  Century.]  ...  ...       715 

Article  VII.  — St.  Ogan,  Oghanus,  or  Ogrin,  a  Bishop  ...  ...       714 

Article  VIII. — St,  Cronan,  of  Glinn  Assi,  Asa,  Aesa,  or  Aosa...  ...       715 

Article  IX. —  Reputed  Festival  of  John,  Bishop  of  Constance,  Germany  ...       715 

Article  X.— St.  Ethnea,  Eithene,  Athna,  Ethna,  Heihna,  or  Eihni  ...      716 


CU)entp^-s(el)cntI)  Bag  of  jfrtniarp* 

Article  I.— St.  Comgan,  or  Comdhax,  Abbot  of  Gleann-Ussen,  or  Kill- 

ESHiN,  Queen's  County.     [Possibly  in  the  Ninth  Century.]    ...      717 
ArticleII,— St.  Comman,  Mac  UaTheimhne  ..,'  ...  ...       721 

Article  III.— Reputed  Festival  of  Soghan  and  Sophan,  Bishops  ...       721 

Article  IV.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Hildulph,  First  Bishop  of  Treves,  or  Triers, 

[Seventh  and  Eighth  Centuries.]  ...  .,721 

Article  V,—Repu'ed  Festival  of  a  St,  Oganus,  l^ishop  ...  ...       722 

Article  VI.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Eluius,  Elueus,  Helvjeus,  or  Albaus,  a  sup- 
posed Bishop  of  Menevia,  Wales,     [Fifth  Century.]  ...       722 
Article  VII.__St,  Oda,  or  Odda,  Virgin,  at  Rhoda,  Belgium.      [During  or  after 

the  Eighth  Century.]  ...  ...  ...      722 


CONTENTS, 


CtucntHisWft  Sap  of  jfcbniarp* 

Article  I.— St.  Sillan,  Silvan,  or  Sylvan,  Abbot  of  Bangor,  County  of 

D<J\VN.     [Sixth  and  Seventh  Centuries.] 
Article  II. — Reputed  Festival  of  a  St.  Mohsiona,  or  Mosinu 
Article  III,— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Gall,  Lake  of  Constance,  Switzerland 
Article  IV. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Modwcna 
Article  V. — Cruimther  Domhnaigh,  or  Crumiharus  Dominile  Cumficlanus,  Son  of 

Ua  Foillanus    ... 
Article  VI. — Reputed  Festival  of  a  St.  Vulfherus,  a  Confessor  and  Priest 
Article  VII. — St.  Ternoc,  or  Tearnog 
Article  VIII. — Festival  of  St.  Aeclh,  Mac  Bricc,  of  Enachbriuin,  of  Killare,  and 

of  Rathhugh,  County  of  Westmeath,  as  also  of  Slieve  League, 

County  of  Donegal.     {Sixth  Centujy.] 
Article  IX. — St.  Ernin,  or  Ermina,  Daughter  of  Airchuin 
Article  X. — Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Connachus,  Priest  and  Confessor 
Article  XL— St.  Dichuill,  of  Airiudh-nuiilt,  Lough  Erne 
Article  XII. — Reputed  Festival  of  a  St.   Victor,   said  to  have  been  Bishop  of 

Donaghmoyne,  County  of  Monaghan 
Article  XIII.— Reputed  Festival  of  St.  Nennius,  Abbot  of  Benchor,  in  the  Hebri- 

dean  Island  Hu,  or  Hy,  Scotland 


Page 
723 

728 
728 

729 
729 
729 


730 

733 
734 
734 

734 

736 


SUPPLEMENTAEY  LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Barden,  Mr.  Peter,  22  North  Summer- 
street,  Dublin, 

Barrett,  Rev.  John,  C.C,  St.  Mary's, 
Ballinrobe,  Co.  Mayo. 

Baxter,  Rev.  James,  C.C,  St.  Kevin's, 
Harrington-street,  Dul)lin. 

Belimgham,  Henry,  Esq.,  9  Cavendish- 
square,  London,  England. 

Burke,  Oliver  J.,  Esq.,  7  Morehampton- 
road,  Donnybrook,  Co.  Dublin. 

Burke,  Rev.  Sylvester,  C.C,  28  Nelson- 
street,  Dublin. 

Cannon,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.,  Ballymac- 
ward  and  Cloonkeen-Kerrill,  Wood- 
lawn,  Co.  Galway.  [Accidently  omittea 
in  the  list  of  Original  Subscribers,  vol.  i.] 

Carey,  Mr.  Matthew,  3  Exchange-court, 
Dublin. 

Christian  Schools,  The  Director,  West- 
port,  Co.  Galway. 

Christian  Schools,  The  Director,  Fermoy, 
Co.  Cork. 

Christian  Schools,  The  Director,  Canal 
Harbour,  James's-street,  Dublin. 

Christie,  Thomas  Craig,  Laird  of  Bedlay, 
Bedlay  House,  Moodiesburn,  Lanark- 
shire, Scotland. 

Clarke,  Rev.  D.  J.,  Aughafallon,  Bally- 
mena,  Co.  Antrim. 

Concanon,  Rev,  John  A.,  P.P.,  Arran 
Islands.  Co.  Galway. 

Curran,  Mrs.  Michael,  43  Aungier- street, 
Dublin. 

Curry,  Rev.  John,  St.  Patrick's,  Bradford, 
England. 


Delaliunt,  Mr.,  3  Florence-street,  Dublin. 
Donaldson,  Miss  Mary,  Marino,  Killiney, 

Co.  Dublin. 
Donnellan,    Dermot   O'Conor,   Esq.,   Sy- 

lane,  Tuam,  Co.  Galway. 
Doody,  Mr.  Patrick,  243  Ninth-street,  S. 

Boston,  Massachusetts,  U.S.,  America. 
Dowling,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  38  Upper  Kevin- 
street,  Dublin. 
Duffy,    Rev.    Bernard,    C.C,     Parochial 

House,  Lower  Exchange-street,  Dublin. 
• 
Fitzpatrick,     Patrick,     Esq.,     Rockfield, 

Stradone,  Co.  Cavan.  , 

Foley,    Mr.    Charles,    82^   Talbot-street, 

Dublin. 

Gammack,  Rev.  James,  A.M.,  The  Par- 
sonage, Drumleihie  Fordoun,  Kixicar- 
dineshire,  Scotland. 

Holden,  Very  Rsv.   Richard,    Dean,    St. 

Oswald's,  Old  Swan,  Liverpool,  England, 
Hughes,  Very  Rev.  James,  P.P.,  Naas, 
Co.  Kildare.  {Accidentally  omitted  in 
the  list  of  Original  Subscribers^  voL  i. 
Now  dead.] 

Joly,  Jasper  Robert,  Esq.,  LL.D.,  38 
Rathmines-road,  Co.  Dublin. 

Kelly,  Rev.  Michael,  O  S.A.,  D.D.,  St, 
Monica's,  Hoxton-square,  London,  Eng- 
land. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS 


Larkin,  H.  J.,  Esq.,  4  Montebello-terrace, 
Ikay,  Co.  Dublin. 

Ledwich,  Mrs.  Anne,  15  South  William- 
street,  Dublin. 

Lockhart,  Rev.  William,  Presbytery,  Tot- 
tenham-road, London,  England. 

Magiiire,  Mr,  Patrick,  Killameen,  Carrig- 

allen,  Co.  Leitrim. 
Massey,  Rev.  William,  St.  Peter's  Church, 

Lancaster,  England. 
Mitchell,  Mr.  William,  3  Exchange-court, 

Dublin. 
Monaghan,   Very  Rev.   Thomas    Canon, 

P.P.,  Loughduff,  Scrabby,  Co.  Cavan. 
Murray,   Rev.  Terence,  P.P.,  Killdallen, 

Ballyconnell,  Co.  Cavan. 
Murtagh,   Mr.  Garrett,  36  Amiens-street, 

Dublin. 
M'Nally,  Mr.  Thomas,  Ballyconnell,  Co. 

Cavan. 

O'Boylan,   Rev.    B.    M.,    St.  Augustine's 

Church,     Newstraitsville,     Perry     Co. 

Ohio,  U.S.,  America. 
O'Daly,    Mr.     John,    9    Anglesea-street, 

Dublin. 
O'Farrell,    Rev.   Michael  J.,    St.    Peter's 

Church,     Barclay-street,     New     York, 

U.S.,  America. 
O'Kane,    Rev.    P.,    P.P.,    Mount    Saint 

Patrick,  Downpatrick,  Co.  Down. 
O'MuIrenin,  Mr.  Richard  J.,  Royal  Irish 

Academy,  19  Dawson-street,  Dublin. 


O'Rorke,  Mr.  J.,  Garradice,  Ballinamore, 

Co.  Leitrim. 
O'Rorke,  Mr.  Michael,   12  Thomas-street, 

Dublin. 

Parker,  John  IL,  Esq.,  Danesfort,  Clon- 

tarf,  Co.  Dublin. 
Passionist  Fathers,  The  Very   Rev.   The 

Superior,  St.  Mungo's  Catholic  Church, 

Parson-street,  Glasgow,  Scotland. 
Penney,   Rev.  Dr.,   St.  John's  Episcopal 

Church,    Stuartfield     House,     Partick, 

Lanarkshire,  Scotland. 

Royston,    James,    Esq.,    35    Bloomfield- 

avenue,  Dublin. 
Ryan,    Rev.  James  J.,   Louvain   College, 

Belgium. 
Ryan,     Rev,     John    T.,     The     College, 

Thurles,  Co.  Tipperary. 

Scully,    Sergeant  James,    D.   M.    Police, 

Lower  Castle  Yard,  Dublin. 
Shamion,  Very  Rev.  Timothy,  P.P.,  V.G., 

Kilmacduagh,  Gort,  Co.  Galway. 
Simons,  Mr.  Thomas,  3  Exchange-street, 

Dublin. 

Tasker,  Very  Rev.  Charles  W.,  Canon, 
Royle  House,  Glossop,  Manchester, 
England. 

Woods,  Very  Rev.  Charles,  St.  Bede's 
College,  Alexandra  Park,  Manchester, 
Endand. 


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LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS 


Siv^t  JBap  ot  jf^hruarp^ 


ARTICLE  I. —LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID,  VIRGIN,  FIRST  ABBESS  OF  KILDARE, 
SPECIAL  PATRONESS  OF  KILDARE  DIOCESE,  AND  GENERAL 
PATRONESS  OF  IRELAND. 

\FIFTH  AND  SIXTH  CENTURIES.I 
CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTION — AUTHOR's  PLAN  AND  TREATMENT  —  AUTHORITIES,  ANCIENT  AND 
MODERN,  FOR  THE  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID — CRITICAL  REMARKS— THE  HOLY  VIRGIN's 
PARENTAGE-^PLACE  AND   DATE  OF   HER  BIRTH. 

THE  path  of  a  modern  biographer,  while  treating  about  the  Acts  of 
Ireland's  great  Patroness,  is  beset  with  difficulties  of  a  varied  nature. 
These  arise,  owing  not  so  much  to  a  want  of  materials  for  his  task,  as  from 
the  legendary,  conflicting,  and  oftentimes  contradictory  accounts,  so  fre- 
quently met  with,  in  several  ancient  tracts,  relative  to  this  holy  virgin. 
Occasionally,  however,  the  most  exacting  investigator  of  our  traditions  and 
antiquities  will  find  facts  or  circumstances,  mingled  with  legendary  or  irre- 
concilable narratives,  deserving  more  than  ordinary  significance  and  having 
much  historic  importance.  It  can  hardly  admit  of  question,  how  pleasure 
and  instruction,  derivable  from  reading  the  most  celebrated  epic  poems  of 
ancient  and  modern  times,  should  be  materially  lessened,  if  presented  by 
their  authors,  in  a  didactic  or  an  unimaginative  style,  avoiding  the  introduc- 
tion of  mythic  episodes  and  personages,  or  the  use  of  exaggerated  metaphors 
and  fancies.  We  must  be  ready  to  allow,  that  an  undercurrent  of  historic 
truth  sometimes  sustains  a  superstructure  of  mythology,  in  such  poems,  and 
that  it  directs  the  interest  and  moral,  evolved  from  poetic  imaginings.  By  a 
parity  of  reasoning — although  in  a  widely  different  sense — the  truly  religious 
and  disciplined  spirit  of  an  enlightened  and  a  pious  Christian  will  not  too 
readily  reject  various  interesting  legends,  contained  in  the  acts  of  our  na- 
tional Saints,  when  he  is  free  to  receive  them  on  the  weight,  or  set  them  in 
abeyance  on  the  want,  of  sustaining  evidence.  Many  sceptical  or  over  fasti- 
dious critics  undervalue  the  force  of  popular  traditions,  and  regard  such 
attested  miracles  as  incredible  or  legendary  ;  but,  while  those  persons  desire 
to  remove  cockle  from  the  field  of  Irish  hagiology,  they  possibly  incur  some 
risk,  at  the  same  time,  of  rooting  up  good  seed  with  the  tares.  Our  Divine 
Redeemer,  regarding  the  existence  of  good  and  evil,  has  already  observed, 
Vol.  II. — No.  i.  b 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


in  a  most  beautiful  and  instructive  parable,  "  Suffer  both  to  grow  until  the 
harvest,  and  in  the  time  of  the  harvest,  I  will  say  to  the  reapers  :  '  Gather 
up  first  the  cockle,  and  bind  it  into  bundles  to  burn,  but  the  wheat  gather  ye 
into  my  bam."'^  The  known  application  of  this,  parable,  respecting  the 
sower  and  the  cockle,  is  obvious  to  the  mind  of  every  well-instructed 
Christian.  Without  any  unnatural  perversion  of  meaning,  it  may  likewise 
apply  to  topics  here  introduced,  but  in  a  mode  somewhat  different.  A 
multitude  of  legends  will  doubtless  be  found  interpolated,  among  St.  Brigid's 
authentic  acts  and  miracles.  .  Such  fictions  create  so  much  embarrassment, 
in  any  effort  to  discriminate  truth  and  error,  that  it  may  be  regarded  as  an 
utterly  impracticable  project,  at  the  present  day,  to  draw  in  many  cases  a 
very  marked  line  of  distinction.  Perhaps,  no  complete  biography  can  be 
presented  to  the  reader,  without  running  some  risk  of  overloading  it  with  un- 
necessary, and  frequently  with  incongruous,  matter.  It  must  be  observed, 
while  depreciating  an  insertion  of  fables,  as  opposed  to  correct  taste  and 
sound  historic  deduction,  the  plan  of  this  present  biography  may  not  warrant 
absolute  departure  from  records  left  us  by  ancient  writers,  however  traditional 
and  unsatisfactory  such  accounts  happen  to  appear ;  especially,  when  no 
amount  of  credit  is  claimed  for  their  authenticity,  but  such  as  may  be  estab- 
lished, by  tests  of  strict  evidence,  or  by  the  dictates  of  acute  judgment. 
Religious  feeling  and  Christian  faith  do -not  require  for  their  preservation 
and  growth,  the  production  and  publication  of  many  legends,  to  be  found  in 
special  Acts  of  our  national  saints.  Those  narratives,  however,  were  con- 
sonant with  a  prevalent  taste,  and  with  the  sentiments  of  our  ancestors,  in 
past  ages.  Even  yet,  when  received  with  due  caution,  and  with  a  just, 
discriminating  spirit,  such  legends  may  be  found,  not  altogether  devoid  of 
edification,  granting  their  authenticity  to  be  very  questionable.  A  well-re- 
gulated mind  will  regard  them,  chiefly  as  emanations  of  a  former  period,  and 
as  illustrations  of  popular  opinion,  national  feeling  or  religious  impressions, 
which  widely  prevailed  during  times,  when  those  narratives  had  been  written. 

Entering  upon  the  subject  of  our  great  saint's  biography,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  premise  a  few  observations  concerning  its  plan  and  treatment,  before 
referring  to  authorities,  on  which  subsequent  statements  are  made.  It  is 
the  writer's  intention,  to  embody  at  least  the  most  probable  and  substantial 
accounts  former  chroniclers  have  handed  down,  regarding  this  holy  virgin, 
according  to  the  best  possible  chronological  order,  and  most  consecutive 
form,  consistent  with  the  intricacy  of  his  subject. 

Wherever  discrepancies  may  be  detected,  in  accounts  left  by  various 
writers,  those  differences  are  faithfully  pointed  out,  either  in  the  text  or  in 
its  accompanying  notes.  Again,  several  disquisitions  or  comments,  not 
claiming  the  character  of  being  original,  in  most  cases,  are  usually  the  result 
of  attentive  reading  or  careful  enquiry  ;  while  those  dissertations  are  placed, 
according  to  the  writer's  best  opinion,  in  their  most  appropriate  position. 
He  has  also  preferred  allowing  the  studious  reader's  exercise  of  his  own 
sagacity  and  critical  discrimination,  rather  to  test  the  accuracy  of  statements 
made,  than  to  assume  their  solution,  where  mistakes  might  so  easily  be  in- 
troduced. The  author  supposes,  those  authorities  quoted  so  frequently 
inust  exonerate  himself  from  any  necessity  for  obtruding  judgments,  often 
liable  to  be  ill-founded.  In  this  life,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  present 
the  fullest  and  most  complete  narrative  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  hitherto  found  in 
the  English  language.  Sensible  of  those  obvious  and  consequent  difficulties 
he  must  expect  to  encounter,  mistakes  are  frequently  inevitable,  while  the 


Article  i.—Chaptlr  i.— ^  St.  Matt,  xiii.,  30. 


i 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


writer  is  almost  as  certain  to  incur  censure  from  the  learned  and  critical,  for 
its  many  elaborations  and  redundancies,  as  for  its  numberless  defects,  and 
unavoidable  inaccuracies. 

Already  several  elegantly  written,  and  tolerably  correct,  compendiums  of 
Saint  Brigid's  Acts  have  appeared  in  an  English  dress.  Many  of  these  are 
most  creditable  to  the  literary  taste  and  correct  judgment  of  their  respective 
authors.  Such  publications  have  supplied  an  admitted  void  in  our  popular 
literature.  Still  a  critical  and  researchful  life  of  Ireland's  holy  Patroness  the 
writer  chiefly  desires  to  produce ;  and,  however  he  may  disappoint  the  ex- 
pectations of  capable  students,  he  cannot  conceal  from  himself  the  inherent 
difficulties  of  his  task,  and  the  utter  impossibility  of  surmounting  them,  saving 
with  a  relative  measure  of  success.  That  degree  of  credibility  attaching  to 
authorities  or  writers,  treating  about  our  great  Virgin  Saint,  should  pre-occupy 
the  reader's  mind,  at  the  very  start  of  our  enquiry.  Impartial  opinions  and 
exact  methods  of  examination  are  required,  when  following  the  intricate  pro- 
cess of  inductive  biographical  research,  where  statements  are  often  liable  to 
mislead.  In  accordance  with  the  general  scope  and  design  of  this  life,  its 
authorities  must  first  be  given,  after  an  unpretending  and  a  simple  arrange- 
ment. A  brief  account  of  the  probable  periods  when  her  biographers  wrote, 
with  their  respective  opportunities  for  acquiring  information,  may  prove 
desirable;  even  though  conjecture  must  be  substituted  for  more  reliable 
knowledge,  in  regard  to  several  subjects  of  special  importance  and  enquiry. 

We  shall  endeavour  to  enumerate  the  several  ancient  writers,  who  are 
stated  to  have  commemorated  St.  Brigid's  Acts  and  virtues,  so  far  as  known 
to  us,  while  observing  that  exact  chronological  order,  in  which  each  compiler 
seems  to  have  flourished,  or  written,  or  died.  It  may  be  premised,  that 
nearly  all  of  these  writers  are  Irishmen,  and  that  several  are  classed  among 
our  native  saints.  Among  the  earliest  we  must  regard  St.  Fiech,^  who 
flourished  in  or  about  the  year  520,  the  disciple  of  St.  Patrick  and  first  chief 
bishop  of  Leinster.  He  is  thought  possibly  to  have  composed  a  hymn  in 
praise  of  St.  Brigid.3  One  attributed  to  him,  however,  seems  to  indicate, 
that  this  holy  virgin  had  departed  from  life,  before  it  had  been  composed. •♦ 
St.  Fiech  was  her  contemporary ;  yet,  it  is  strange,  we  find  no  allusion  to 
him  in  her  Acts.     Fiech  does  not  seem  to  have  lived,  beyond  the  year  530.S 


^  See  his  Life  at  the  12th  of  October.  served.     This  he  says  may  be  instanced,  in 

3  It  is  said  to  commence  with  these  words  :  the  fourth  and  fifth  lines.     Yet,  the  Latin 

**  Audite  Virginis  laudes."  reader  must  find,  on  investigation,  that  there 

*  In  the  "  Leabhur  lomaun,"  or  "Book  are  sixteen  syllables  in  these  lines  mentioned, 

of  Hymns" — now  preserved  in  the  Francis-  as  in  most  of  the  other  stanzas.     There  are, 

can  Library,  Dublin — an  old  scholiast  pre-  however,  five  lines  which  either  fall  short, 

fixed  the  io\\o\v'mg  proeinium  or  argument  or  exceed  that  number  of  syllables.   Secondly, 

to  this  hymn,  and  which  may  thus  be  trans-  as  published  by  Colgan,  the  hymn  consists 

lated  into  English.       "St.   Nennid   Lam-  of  five  instead  of  four  strophes.     Thirdly,  \i 

hoidhain,  that  is,  of  the  Clean  Hand,  com-  what  the  scholiast  states  be  true,  that  the 

posed  this  hymn  in  praise  of  St.  Brigid,  or  words,    "Audite    Virginis    laudes,"   com- 

St.    Fieg    of    Sletty ;      *  Audite    Virginis  menced   the  hymn,    and   that  there    were 

laudes'  is  its  beginning  :  or,  St.   Ultan  of  four  divisions  or  parts  in  it,  two  of  the  last 

Ardbrecain  composed  it,  in  honour  of  St.  must  be  wanting,  and  three  other  strophes, 

Brigid.     It  comprises  St.  Brigid's  miracles  which  are  placed  before  these  lines,  must 

in  one  book  :  an  alphabetical  order  is  there  have  been  intended  as  a  preface.     Or,  if  we 

preserved,  and  it  is  written  in  imitation  of  can  be  sure,  that  absolutely  speaking,  there 

Nosearian  metre.     There  are  four  chapters  were  only  four  verses  in  it,  the  fifth  which 

in  it,  and  four  lines  in  each  chapter,  with  is  not  found  in  the  St.  Magnus'  manuscript, 

sixteen    syllables    in    each    line."      Three  must  be  an  addition  to  the  original  number, 

points  must  here  be  noted,  Colgan  remarks.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Tertia  Vita  S. 

First,  in  the  hymn  he  published,  the  number  Brigidse,  n.  80,  p.  445. 
of  sixteen  syllables  in  each  line  is  not  pre-  s  This  Colgan  endeavours  to  show,  in  his 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i, 


Nearly  contemporaneous  in  point  of  antiquity,  we  may  regard  St.  Ninni- 
dius,^  surnamed  Laimhiohain.7  He  is  said  to  have  treated  on  the  virtues 
and  miracles  of  St.  Brigid.  This  is  the  statement  of  some  writers.^  As  her 
chaplain  and  most  intimate  friend,  he  must  have  had  special  advantages  for 
acquiring  information  on  this  subject ;  and  therefore,  a  life  of  the  saint,  com- 
posed by  him,  should  be  regarded  as  one  of  inestimable  value  and  authen- 
ticity. Yet,  Colgan  thinks,  although  Fiech  and  Nennidius,  in  all  likelihood, 
wrote  something  concerning  St.  Brigid,  the  hymn  in  question  should  rather 
be  attributed  to  St.  Ultan,  on  account  of  certain  reasons  adduced.9  St. 
Nennidius,  called  also  Nenius,^°  administered  Holy  Viaticum  to  the  illus- 
trious virgin,  when  she  died,  about  a.d.  523,  and  consequendy  he  flourished 
early  in  the  sixth  century.  St.  Brendan,  Bishop  of  Clonfert,  is  said  to  have 
written  about  the  virtues  and  miracles  of  St.  lirigid."  He  flourished,  like- 
wise, after  her  time,  and  he  died  on  the  i6th  of  May,"  a.d.  576.^3  St. 
Brogan  Cloen,^^  of  Rostuirk  in  Ossory,  and  who  probably  flourished  in  the 
seventh  century,  composed  an  Irish  hynm'5  in  praise  of  St.  Brigid.'^  Of 
this  various  manuscript  copies  remain. ^7  .  Besides  these  authors,  Cogitosus,^^ 
who  flourished  probably  after  the  sixth  and  before  the  ninth  century,  wrote  a 
celebrated  treatise  on  the  life  and  virtues  of  St.  Brigid.  Several  manuscript 
copies  of  this  tract  are  yet  to  be  found.^9  Again,  the  illustrious  St.  Colum- 
kille,-°  Apostle  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  is  thought  to  have  written  a  hymn  on 
the  life,  and  in  praise,  of  St.  Brigid.^^  He  is  reputed  to  have  composed  it," 
about  A.D.  563,  on  his  passage  to  Britain.  St.  Columkille  is  generally  thought 
to  have  departed  this  life,  in  the  year  596.^3 


Fourth  Appendix  to  St.  Patrick's  Acts,  and 
in  that  Catalogue  of  authors,  who  wrote 
biographies  of  our  national  Apostle. 

'  See  his  Life  at  the  2nd  of  April. 

7  Believing  him  to  have  been  Abbot  of 
Inis-Muighe-Samh,  an  island  on  Lough 
Erne,  Colgan  published  his  Acts  in  the 
'*  Acta  Sanctorum  Hibernioe,"  xviii.  Janu- 
arii,  pp.  iii  to  115. 

^  See  Sir  James  Ware,  "  De  Scriptoribus 
Hibernice,"  lib.  i.,  cap,  i.,  p.  3. 

9  In  his  notes  to  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life. 

'°  According  to  the  Third,  Fourth  and 
Fifth  Lives  of  St.  Brigid,  as  published  by 
Colgan. 

"  The  Scholiast  on  an  Irish  hymn,  com- 
posed in  praise  of  St.  Brigid,  and  which 
begins  with  the  words,  ' '  Brigid  be  bhith- 
maith,"  doubts  as  to  whether  the  hymn,  in 
question,  should  be  assigned  to  St.  Brendan 
or  to  St.  Columba.  But,  Colgan  supposed, 
it  should  rather  be  attributed  to  St.  Co- 
lumba's  pen,  as  well  because  of  a  statement 
contained  in  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  as 
on  account  of  a  cause  alleged  by  the  afore- 
said Scholiast  for  composing  this  hymn,  and 
more  nearly  indicating  such  a  conclusion. 

"  Colgan  promised  to  say  more  regarding 
him,  at  that  day,  when  his  Life  will  be 
found  in  this  collection. 

'3  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  208,  209. 

'*  See  his  Life  at  the  1 7th  of  September. 

'S  That  published  by  Colgan  has  53 
stanzas,  while  one,  attributed  to  this  same 
Brogan  Clocn,  among  the  Trinity  College 


Manuscripts,  Dublin,  and  classed  E.  4,  2, 
has  only  34  stanzas. 

^^  In  the  vol.  xviii.,  belonging  to  the 
Betham  Collection  of  Manuscripts  of  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy,  and  written  by 
Michael  O'Longan,  about  the  year  1760, 
there  is  a  "  Hymnus  de  Virtutibus  et  mira- 
culis  Sanctoe  Brigidae  Kildariensis  abbatissas 
et  patronte,"  a  Sancto  Brigano,  p.  82.  It 
appears  to  have  been  copied  from  Colgan. 

'7  There  are  seven  quatrains  of  a  poem  on 
St.  Brigid  attributed  to  St.  Brogan,  and 
these  are  followed  by  St.  Brogan's  hymn  to 
St.  Brigid,  published  by  Colgan,  in  vol. 
xli.,  a  small  4to  paper  of  the  Betham  Manu- 
script Collection  of  the  Royal  Irish  Aca- 
demy, at  p.  143  and  p.  144.  These  arc 
written  by  Mr.  Owen  Connellan, 

'8  This  writer  is  thought  to  be  the  St. 
Cogitosus,  surnamed  the  Wise,  whose  life 
occurs  at  the  i8th  of  April. 

'9  At  Eichstaett  in  Germany,  there  is  a 
copy  of  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  by  Cogitosus. 

='°  See  his  Life  at  the  9th  of  June. 

^'  Colgan  supposed  he  had  not  seen  any 
of  Columba's  compositions  on  this  subject, 
except  what  had  already  been  given  through 
a  Latin  version  in  his  second  appendix  to 
vSt.  Brigid's  Acts  (cap.  xxiv. ),  and  which, 
in  the  original,  begins  with  these  words 
"Brigid  be  bhithmaith." 

=="  The  Scholiast  on  this  hymn,  and  an 
Irish  life  of  St.  Brigid,  attribute  its  com- 
position to  St.  Columba. 

*3  On  the  9th  day  of  June.  This  is  shown 
in  the  fourth  appendix  to  his  Acts.     See 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


St.  Ultan,=*  Bishop  of  Ardbraccan,  in  Meath,  it  is  believed,  wrote  a  book 
on  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid.'s  He  also,  it  is  said,  composed  a  hymn,  in  her 
praise.^^  Colgan  has  assigned  both  of  these  tracts  to  the  third  place  among 
his  various  published  acts  of  our  saint.^7  This  author  flourished  about  a.d. 
5 So,  and  he  is  reputed  to  have  died,  at  a  very  old  age,  on  the  4th  of  Sep- 
tember, A.D.  656.=^^  St.  Aleran,  or  Aileran,  sometimes  called  Eleran,^9  and 
surnamed  the  Wise,  was  a  president  or  chief-director  over  Clonard  School, 
in  Meath.  He  wrote  St.  Brigid's  Life.3°  This  is  testified  by  St.  Coelan, 
who  himself  composed  metrical  acts  of  St.  Brigid.3'  St.  Aileran's  feast  has 
been  assigned  incorrectly  to  the  nth  of  August,32  and  his  death  is  set  down 
at  664.  This  year  of  mortality,  however,  seems  rather  referable  to  St. 
Aileran  the  Wise,33  whose  feast  is  held  on  the  29th  of  December.  Kilian 
or  Coelanus,  of  Inis-Keltra,34  composed  St.  Brigid's  Life  in  verse.35  This 
forms  the  sixth  and  last  of  her  acts,  as  pubHshed  by  Colgan.36  In  his  notes, 
postfixed  to  this  metrical  life,37  the  editor  attempts  to  prove  that  Coelan 
flourished  about  the  end  of  the  seventh  or  beginning  of  the  eighth  century.  38 
Animosus,  who  appears  to  have  acquired  the  name  Anmchiudh  or  Anmire, 
among  the  Irish,  is  said  to  have  written  many  books  of  St.  Brigid's  acts.  39 
This  author,  as  has  been  thought,  flourished  about  the  year  950.4°  At  a 
period  subsequent  to  the  time  of  writers  already  named,  many  others,  who 
flourished  after  the  commencement  of  the  twelfth  century,  wrote  her  life. 
Among  these  authors  may  be  enumerated,  Laurence  of  Durham,^^  who  is 


Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  cap.  iv., 
v.,  vi.,  pp.  483  to  486. 

^^  See  his  Life  at  the  4th  of  September. 

-s  In  Harris'  Ware,  we  read,  "  Ultan 
Macconcubar  \i.e.  O'Connor]  Bishop  of 
Ardbraccan,  collected  the  Miracles  of  St. 
Brigid  into  one  volume  in  alphabetical 
order,  from  whence  an  anonymous  author, 
who  'ivrit  the  life  of  that  virgin  in  verse  hath 
taken  occasion  to  preface  his  Poem  with 
these  lines  : — 

*'  Scripserunt  nmlti  virtutes  virginis  ahnce^ 
Ultanus  Doctor,  atque  Eleraniis  ovans. 

Desaipsit  vndtos  Animosus  nomine  libros, 
De  vita  ac  studiis  virginis  ac  meritis. 

' '  The  Virgin's  virtues  many  writers  paint, 
Ultan  the  Sage  and  Eleran  the  Saint ; 
And  Amchaid  in  immortal   works  dis- 
play'd 
The  life   and   merits  of  the   spotless 
maid." 

—Vol.  ii.  "Writers  of  Ireland,"  book  i., 
chap,  iv.,  p.  30, 

^^  Stated  to  have  commenced  with  the 
words:  "  Audite  Virginis  laudes."  To  it, 
allusion  has  been  already  made. 

^7  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  pp.  527  to 

545. 

-*^  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  268,  269  and  n. 
{s^),  ibid.  In  the  "  Chronicum  Scotorum," 
edited  by  William  M.  Hennessy,  his  death 
is  placed  at  A.D.  653,  which  is  tlie  year  657, 
according  to  O'Flaherty.  SeCjpp.  94,  95, 
and  n.  7,  by  the  editor. 


=9  See  his  Life  at  the  29th  of  December. 

3°  See  Sir  James  Ware,  "De  Scriptoribus 
Hibernian,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  p.  27. 

3'  See  Ussher,  "  De  Primordiis  Britanni- 
carum  Ecclesiarum,"  p.  1067. 

3^  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  n.  6,  p.  598,  and 
Appendix  Tertia  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  pp. 
609,  610.  This  seems  to  confound  Jiim  with 
St.  Aireran  or  Ereran  of  Tyfarnham  in 
Westmeath. 

33  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  276,  277. 

3-i  See  his  Life  at  the  29th  of  July. 

3S  This  has  been  edited  by  Father  John 
Boland,  in  "Acta  Sanctorum  Februarii," 
tomus  i.  Vita  iii.  S.  Brigidse,  virg.,  pp. 
141  to  155. 

3^  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Sexta 
Vita  S.  Brigidse,  pp.  582  to  596. 

37  A  manuscript  copy  of  this  metrical  life, 
kindly  presented  by  William  Eassie,  Esq., 
High  Orchard  House,  Gloucester,  England, 
is  in  the  writer's  possession. 

38  See  ibid.,  nn.  1,2,  3,  pp.  596  to  598. 

39  In  a  prologue,  prefixed  to  St.  Coe- 
lan's  metrical  life,  and  published  by  Colgan, 
allusion  is  made  to  the  three  last  named 
writers  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts.  See  "Trias 
Thaumaturga."  Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  p. 
582. 

4°  See  ibid.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  n. 
I,  p.  563. 

4^  An  English  Benedictine.  He  died 
about  1 149.  Besides  St,  Brigid's  life,  he 
wrote  a  Scriptural  history,  in  Nine  Books 
and  in  Latin  elegiac  verses.  It  bore  the 
title  of  "  Hypognosticon."     He  also  com^ 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


said  to  have  composed  St.  Brigid's  biography,  about  the  year  1150,  and  in  a 
superior  style  of  Latinity,  not  commonly  attempted  during  that  age  in  which 
he  lived.-t^* 

The  most  complete  series  of  St.  Brigid's  ancient  Acts  has  been  already 
published  by  our  national  hagiographer,  Father  John  Colgan.43  These  Acts 
he  has  admirably  arranged  and  annotated.  With  certain  modifications  of 
opinion  and  comment,  we  shall  briefly  review  them  in  his  order.44 

The  first  of  Colgan's  Srigidin^  Lives  is  that  Irish  poem,  ascribed  to  St. 
Brogan^s  of  Rosstuirc,  in  Ossory.^^  This,  according  to  one  inference,  had 
been  written  about  the  beginning  of  the  sixth  century,47  soon  after  St. 
Brigid's  death,  if  we  credit  the  scholiast's  statement. "^^  However,  if  St. 
Ultan'^9  of  Ardbraccan  advised  Brogan  to  compose  it — as  the  same  authority 
states — its  production  is  thought  to  be  more  properly  referable  to  the  seventh 
century. so  The  second  is  her  life,  by  Cogitosus,5^  who  is  incorrectly  consi- 
dered to  have  been  a  nephew  and  contemporary  of  the  holy  Virgin. s^  It 
would  appear,  even  from  a  passage  in  the  Prologue  to  this  Life,S3  how  that 
Prelate  of  Kildare,  at  the  time  its  author  wrote,  was  Archbishop  over  the 
Leinster  province, S4  while  many  bishops  had  preceded  him  in  rule,  since  this 
See  of  Kildare  had  been  first  ruled  by  Conlaeth.ss  That  this  work  had  been 
written,  before  the  removal  took  place  of  St.  Brigid's  relics  to  Down,5^  and 


posed  "Consolatio  pro  morte  Amici,"  in 
Latin  verse,  with  some  other  poetical  pieces. 
See  S.  Austin  Allibone's  "  Critical  Dic- 
tionary of  English  Literature,"  &c.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  1064. 

4^  Colgan  has  published  it,  as  the  fifth 
among  his  acts  of  St.  Brigid.  In  an  ap- 
pended note,  the  editor  states,  this  author 
died  about  a.d.  1160.  See  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga,"  p.  639. 

43  No  less  than  six  different  Lives  of  St. 
Brigid  has  he  comprised  in  the  "Trias 
Thaumaturga, "  extending  from  p.  513  to  p. 
598.  Then  follow  five  elaborate  Appen- 
dices, and  an  Epilogue,  specially  referring 
to  this  Virgin's  Acts,  pp.  599  to  640.  A 
Summary  of  her  Acts  is  likewise  given,  pp. 
654  to  658,  besides  other  allusions  to  her, 
in  the  general  Indices. 

44  It  will  be  understood,  that  when  subse- 
quently alluding  to  the  numerical  order  of 
St.  Brigid's  Lives,  we  are  referring  solely  to 
Colgan's  arrangement. 

45  Most  likely,  it  is  said,  this  Poem  of  his 
had  been  written  as  an  Elegy,  immediately 
on  receipt  of  intelligence,  regarding  St. 
Brigid's  death. 

4^  Near  Slieve  Bloom  Mountains. 

47  He  is  said  to  have  composed  it  in  the 
time  of  Oilill,  or  Ailild,  son  of  Dulaing, 
King  of  Leinster,  and  whose  death  is  re- 
corded in  Dr.  O' Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  at  A.  D.  526.  Vol.  i.,  pp. 
J  74,  175- 

4«See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidae.  Praefacio  Veteris 
Anonymi,  p.  515.  Her  death  is  usually 
placed  between  the  years  518  and  525,  by 
the  greater  number  of  those,  who  have 
written  her  Acts. 


45  According  to  Ussher,  he  died  A.D.  657. 
See  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Antiqui- 
tates."     Index  Chronologicus,  p.  539. 

5°  Ultan  is  placed  in  that  age,  by  Sir 
James  Ware.  See  "De  Scriptoribus 
Hiberniae."     Lib.  i.  cap.  iii.,  pp.  22,  23. 

S'  Canisius  had  previously  published  a 
version  of  it  in  "  Antiquae  Lectiones." 
Tomus  V. 

5=  By  Messingham,  who  has  given  this 
Life  a  place  in  "  Florilegium  Insulae  Sanc- 
torum." 

53  The  version  of  St.  Brigid's  Life,  by 
Cogitosus,  which  Colgan  has  published,  was 
prepared  especially  from  a  Manuscript  be- 
longing to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Hubert, 
and  from  a  Codex  belonging  to  the  Monas- 
tery of  St.  Amand — both  houses  probably 
were  situated  in  Belgium  or  Northern 
France.  The  version,  issued  by  Canisius 
and  Messingham,  Colgan  found  to  be  very  full 
of  errors,  and  therefore  he  corrected  several, 
especially  using  the  St.  Amand  copy, 
although  he  did  not  quite  restore  the  text  to 
his  perfect  satisfaction.  He  also  subdivided 
the  Life  into  a  more  convenient  number  of 
chapters,  than  he  had  previously  found 
existing. 

54  From  the  following  passage  in  a  Pro- 
logue to  this  Life,  we  read  :  "  Quam  sem- 
per Archiepiscopus  Hiberniensium  Episco- 
porum,  et  Abbatissa,  quam  omnes  Abbatissse 
Scotorum  venerantur,  felici  successione,  et 
ritu  perpetuo  dominantur," — Cogitosus'  or 
"Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,"  p.  516. 

ss  His  Festival  occurs  at  the  3rd  of  May. 

5^  This  transfer  happened,  in  Colgan's 
opinion,  before  or  about  the  middle  of  the 
ninth  century.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
n.  14,  pp.  565,  566. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


before  those  ravages,57  caused  by  the  Danes — or  even  by  Irish  princess^ — in 
Kildare,  cannot  be  disputed. 59  Various  manuscript  copies  of  Cogitosus' 
work^  have  been  preserved  in  different  libraries.^^  Not  the  least  allusion 
occurs  in  it  to  Kildare's  having  been  ever  destroyed,  or  to  the  spoliation  of 
St.  Brigid's  and  St.  Conlaeth's  shrines,  which  he  represents  as  being  very 
splendid  and  very  rich.  From  his  statement,  likewise,  that  the  city  of  Kil- 
dare and  its  suburbs  were  places  of  safety  and  refuge,  in  which  there  could 
not  be  the  least  apprehension  of  any  hostile  attack,^^  the  canons  of  historic 
criticism  seem  to  place  the  authorship  of  this  tract,  at  some  time  before  the 
commencement  of  the  ninth  century. 

The  Third  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  as  published  by  Colgan,  is  attributed  to  St. 
Ultan  of  Ardbraccan  by  the  editor ;  although  such  a  supposition  has  been 
contravened  by  other  judicious  critics.  On  the  authority  of  some  false 
genealogies,  it  is  thought  St.  Brigid  was  sister  to  St.  Ultan  of  Ard  Breccain. 
It  was  this  Ultan,  who,  according  to  another  statement,  collected  the  virtues 
and  miracles  of  Brighit  together,  and  who  commanded  his  disciple  Brogan  to 
put  them  into  poetry. ^3  This  is  said  to  be  evident  from  the  Book  of  Hymns, 
i.e.  "The  victorious^^  Brighit  did  not  love,"  &c.  While  comparing  the 
Third  with  the  First,  Second,  Fourth  and  Fifth  Lives  of  St.  Brigidj^s  it  will 
be  found,  that  many  particulars  there  related  concerning  her  are  not  con- 
tained in  those  last-mentioned  tracts.^^    Again,  the  number  of  divisions  it 


57  These  are  not  known  to  have  commen- 
ced, before  the  ninth  century,  and  the  first 
record  of  the  foreigners  having  plundered 
and  burned  Kildare  is  refen-ed  to  A.D.  835 
in  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  452,  453. 

5^  In  831,  Kildare  was  plundered  by 
Ceallach,  son  of  Bran,  and  again  in  835  by 
Feidhlimidh.  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  An- 
nals of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  446, 
447,  452,  .453- 

59  In  his  notes  to  the  foregoing  passage, 
Colgan  remarks,  it  is  not  to  be  understood, 
the  bishop  of  Kildare  was  Archbishop  over 
all  Ireland,  but  that  he  only  presided  over 
the  Leinster  province.  Nor  did  Kildare 
always  claim  the  dignity  of  being  a  Metro- 
politan See.  For,  St,  Fiech,  bishop  of 
Sletty,  St.  Patrick's  disciple,  at  a  previous 
period,  was  styled  Archbishop  of  Leinster. 
This  Colgan  intended  to  show,  in  his  Acts, 
which  were  to  have  been  published,  at  the 
1 2th  of  October.  After  his  time,  the  metro- 
political  seat  is  said  to  have  been  translated 
from  Sletty  to  Kildare.  This  seems  to  be 
manifest  from  the  foregoing  passage.  From 
Kildare  it  passed  to  Ferns,  as  asserted  in 
notes  to  the  Life  of  St.  Maidoc,  at  the  31st 
of  January,  and  as  promised  to  be  shown, 
in  those,  to  be  attached  to  St.  Moling's 
Life,  at  the  17th  of  June,  as  also  to  St. 
Molua's  Acts,  at  the  4th  of  August. 
Thence  it  afterwards  returned  to  Kildare. 
See  Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum 
Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvii,,  p.  449. 

^°  From  MSS.  Cameracen.  Wibling.  Tre- 
verens.,  it  has  been  printed  in  the  Bollandists' 
"Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii  i., 
Vitaii.  S.  Brigidge,  pp.  135  to  141.     It  was 


edited  from  a  MS.,  belonging  to  Preudhome, 
a  Canon  of  Arras,  collated  also  with  MSS. 
belonging  to  "  Monasteriorum  S.  Maximini, 
Treveris,  Wiblingensis  in  Suevia;  Bodicensis 
in  Westphalia,  cumque  editimibus  Canisii  e 
MS.  Aistadiano,  et  Joannis  Colgani  ex 
MSS.  S.  Huberti  et  S.  Amandi." 

^^  Among  these  may  be  noticed :  Vita 
S.  Brigidce,  MS.  Bodl.,  Fell.  3  ff.  108-116 
b.  veil.  fol.  xi.  cent.  Also  MS.  Bibl.  Valli- 
cellan.  ap.  Romam.,  Tom.  xxi.,  ff.  203-207, 
fol.  veil.  xi.  cent. 

^^  Thus  he  writes  "nullus  camalis  adver- 
sarius,  nee  concursus  timetur  hostium."  See 
Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxxv.,  p.  524, 
Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

*3  Could  we  only  trust  implicitly  this 
statement  of  the  O'Clery's  Calendar,  St. 
Ultan's  or  St.  Brogan's  Life  of  St.  Brigid 
must  be  the  most  authentic  and  valuable  of 
all  her  biographies. 

^*  In  a  note  by  Dr.  Todd,  he  says,  at  this 
passage,  "This  is  the  first  line  of  the  metri- 
cal life  of  St.  Brigid,  published  from  the 
Book  of  Hymns,  by  Colgan  ;  Trias  Thaum.^ 

P-  515." 

^^  In  Colgan's  work,  where  such  differ- 
ences may  be  noticed. 

^^  Dr.  Lanigan  writes  in  his  "Ecclesias- 
tical History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii., 
§iii.,  n.  38,  p.  388.  "This  Life  was,  I 
suspect,  patched  up  in  the  diocese  of  Ardagh, 
and  very  probably  in  an  island  of  Lough 
Rie  called  the  Island  of  All  Saints,  in  which 
Augustin  Magraiden  lived,  who,  having 
compiled  Lives  of  Irish  Saints,  died  A.D. 
1405  (Ware's  Writers).  Colgan  got  one  of 
his  copies  oi^it  from  the^monastery  of  that 
place," 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


comprises  exceed  those  in  the  Fourth  Life,  by  about  twenty-three  chapters.'^^ 
Its  excess  seems  estabHshed  in  point  of  matter,  if  not  in  regard  to  substantial 
accuracy.  Colgan  was  indebted  to  Father  Stephen  White^^  for  the  reception 
of  that  MS. — pubhshed  afterwards  as  the  Third  Life^9 — with  other  erudite 
communications.  White  thought,  that  the  author  of  this  Third  hfe  must 
have  been  either  St.  Virgil,7°  or  St.  Erard,7^  who  were  Irishmen. 7=  This 
Ratisbonne  MS.,  we  are  told,  had  been  written  in  Irish  characters,  and  as 
supposed,  in  the  tenth  or  eleventh  century.73  A  fifth  MS.  copy  of  the 
Third  Life  was  extant.74  The  editor  of  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life,  however, 
could  not  agree  with  Stephen  White,  that  its  authorship  was  attributable  to 
either  of  the  Saints  named  by  him.75  The  Bollandists7*5  have  published  the 
Life  of  our  Saint  attributed  to  St.  Ultan,  from  a  manuscript  codex,  belonging 
to  the  Church  of  St.  Omer.  Some  manuscript  copies  of  it  are  yet  preserved 
at  Oxford.77  That  St.  Ultan  wrote  the  Acts  of  St.  Brigid,  is  asserted  by 
Colgan,  on  authority  of  Ussher,78  Ware,79  an  author  of  her  life  in  Irish,  and  a 
certain  Scholiast.^°  The  editor  also  maintains,  that  the  life  written  was 
identical  with  that  published  by  him,^^  owing  to  the  probability  of  some 
metrical  lines  appended  being  composed  by  the  same  author.^^     In  the  St. 


^7  This  is  Colgan's  statement.  Yet,  it 
must  refer,  not  to  the  relative  numerical 
divisions  of  chapters,  but  to  additional  mat- 
ter in  the  Third  Life. 

^^  This  learned  Irish  Jesuit  was  well 
versed  in  the  Antiquities  of  his  native  coun- 

^  The  original  manuscript  was  an  old 
codex,  belonging  to  the  monastery  of  St. 
Magnus,  at  Ratisbonn,  in  Bavaria.  This 
tract  Colgan  accompanied  with  various 
marginal  annotations  and  readings.  These 
were  partly  taken  from  a  MS,,  belonging  to 
the  monastery  of  St.  Autbert,  at  Cambray, 
and  partly  from  a  MS.,  preserved  at  the 
Island  of  all  Saints,  in  Ireland.  The  Cam- 
bray MS.  had  been  furnished  by  D.  Georgeus 
Colvenerius,  who  was  distinguished  for  his 
research  and  love  of  antiquities  ;  and  besides 
the  All  Saints'  MS.,  received  from  Longford 
County  in  Ireland,  Colgan  obtained  another 
MS.  from  the  Carthusian  collection  at 
Cologne. 

7°  His  Festival  occurs  on  the  27th  of 
November. 

7'  His  Feast  is  assigned  to  the  8th  of 
January. 

7»  These  flourished  in  Bavaria,  during  the 
eighth  century. 

73  The  Trinity  College  Manuscript  classed 
E.  4,  10  contains,  "Vita  et  Legenda  S. 
Brigidse  Virginis."  Ussher  supposes  this 
to  have  been  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  written 
by  St.  Ultan  of  Ardbraccan.  It  includes, 
also,  various  readings  on  the  margins,  copied 
from  a  more  copious  old  MS.,  belonging  to 
the  monastery  of  St.  Magnus,  tenanted  by 
the  Canons  regular  of  St.  Augustine,  at 
Ratisbon  in  Bavaria. 

74  This  belonged  to  Dunensis  monastery 
in  Flanders.  Colgan  adds,  that  we  may 
fairly  infer  the  author  must  have  lived  at  a 


very  remote  period,  when  most  of  the  copies 
known  had  been  traced  more  than  five  hun- 
dred years  before  his  own  time,  while  some 
were  more  than  seven  hundred  years  old. 

7S  Colgan's  reason  is  chiefly  a  negative 
one,  viz.,  because  no  writer  or  author  had 
heretofore  stated  his  having  compiled  her 
biography. 

7"  See  "Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i., 
Februarii  i,.  Vita  Prima  Brigidce,  pp.  118 

to  135- 

77  Among  these  are  :  Vita  S.  Brigidae, 
MS.  Bodl.  Rawl.,  B.  505,  pp.  193-207,  fol. 
veil.  xiv.  cent.  A  similar  life  in  MS.  Bodl. 
Rawl.,  B.  485,  f.  134,  veil.  4to.  xiv.  cent., 
is  extant. 

7^  See  "  De  Primordiis  Ecclesiarum  Bri- 
tannicarum,"  p.  1067. 

79  See  "De  Scriptoribus  Hibemioe,"  lib. 
i.,  cap.  iii.,  pp.  22,  23. 

^  While  it  is  admitted,  by  Dr.  Lanigan, 
that  Ultan  of  Ardbraccan  wrote  something 
concerning  St.  Brigid,  this  learned  historian 
will  not  allow  either  him  or  any  other  wri- 
ter of  the  seventh  century,  to  have  recorded 
the  many  strange  fables,  with  which  it  is 
crammed.  This  work  he  designates  as  "a 
hodge-podge,  made  up  at  a  late  period,  in 
which  it  is  difficult  to  pick  out  any  truth, 
from  amidst  a  heap  of  rubbish."  It  also 
differs  from  the  two  former  tracts,  in  some 
material  points.  See  "Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  §  II, 
n.  18,  p.  380. 

^'  This  conclusion  is  supposed  to  be  fur- 
ther warranted,  by  the  usual  clause,  "  Ex- 
plicit Vita  S.  Brigidre,"  postfixed  to  the  life 
of  a  Saint  coming  after,  and  not  before  that 
Hymn,  found  in  the  St.  Magnus  MS.,  as 
written  many  ages  before  Colgan's  time. 

^^  In  the  opinion  of  White,  Colveneriur> 
and  Ward. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS, 


Aiitbert  MS.,  the  Life  comes  after  a  "  carmen/'^s  which  follows  the  Hymn. 
Although  the  author  does  not  give  us  his  name,  he  nevertheless  reveals  him- 
self as  being  from  the  Island  Hibernia,  and  of  Irish  origin.^*  After  the  last 
words,  in  a  life  of  our  sainted  Virgin,  the  author  first  places  her  proper 
Latin  Hymn,^5  and  then  having  completed  the  Latin  lines,  he  pours  forth 
prayers  to  St.  Brigid — thus  piously  invoking  her  intercession,  in  the  Irish 
idiom  and  character.  These  circumstances  are  somewhat  remarkable.^^ 
That  St.  Ultan  was  its  author,  and  consequently  composer  of  the  Third  Life, 
seems  to  be  established,^7  from  certain  remarks  of  an  old  Scholiast,^^  on  the 
same  Hymn.  Even  although  the  Scholiast  doubts,  whether  St.  Nennidius, 
St.  Fiech,  or  St.  Ultan,  be  its  author,  his  very  words  are  thought  conclusive, 
in  showing  this  latter  to  be  the  writer,  both  of  the  Life  and  of  the  Hymn ; 
since,  he  is  said  to  have  composed  both  one  and  the  other,  in  praise  of  St. 


^3  This  piece  is  headed  "Carmen  de 
eadem  (Sci].  S.  Brigida)  exMSS.  Autberti." 
Its  lines  are  in  Latin,  of  which  we  present 
the  following  English  version  : — 

*'  Brigid's  great  name,  with  double  lustre 
shines, 

Brigid's  great  name,  our  love  with  light 
entwines. 

A  Virgin  of  the  Lord,  without,  within, 

Pure  was  her  soul,  preserved  from  stains 
of  sin. 

A  Virgin  of  the  Lord,  dear  brethren,  she 

Dead  to  the  world  and  pride,  for  Heaven 
was  free. 

Despised  she  fleeting  honours,  wealth  and 
pleasures, 

She  sought  eternal  joys,  exhaustless  trea- 
sures. 

Then  shield  us  from  that  future  fate  we 
dread. 

When  the  last  Trumpet  wakes  the  buried 
dead, 

O  Virgin,  loved  by  God,  bless'd  and  be- 
nign, 

O  hear  thy  clients'  prayers,  nor  cease  to 
offer  thine." 

See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia 
Vita  S.  Brigidas,  p.  542,  and  nn.  82,  83, 
p.  545,  ibid. 

^'^  This  is  indicated,  in  the  first  line. 
Colgan  says,  the  Hymn  which  he  published 
was  found  in  that  Irish  MS.,  commonly 
called  the  Leabhur  lomawt,  and  in  Latin, 
"  Liber  Hymnorum,"  by  our  national  anti- 
quaries. In  this  MS.  were  also  contained 
many  Hymns,  composed  by  different  Irish 
Saints.  From  it,  Colgan  obtained  the  la-^^t 
line,  which  was  wanting  in  the  St.  Magnus 
MS. 

*5  It  has  been  concluded,  that  as  no 
authority  states  St.  Nennidius  or  St.  Fiech 
to  have  written  St.  Brigid's  Acts  in  a  book, 
and  as  it  could  be  shown  from  written  and 
from  other  sources,  that  St.  Ultan  wrote  her 
Acts  in  one  book,  and  also  a  Hymn  in  her 
praise  ;  it  would  seem,  this  latter  must  have 
been  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life, 


published  by  Colgan,  with  the  metrical  lines 
postfixed,  and  that  he  was  composer,  both 
of  the  prose  life  and  of  the  Hymn.  See 
ibid.,  n.  80,  p.  545. 

^^  This  metrical  composition  is  headed, 
"  Hymnus  de  Brigida  Virgine."  The  lines 
run  in  Latin  ;  but  we  have  ventured  to  ren- 
der them  in  the  following  English  version : — 

"  Those    Signs,    whereby  her    wond'rous 

pow'r  was  known 
To   men,    in   our   Hibernian   Isle,   were 

shown  ; 
Excelling  through  great  virtues,  beamed 

on  earth 
The  dawning  promise   of  her  heavenly 

birth. 
Not  mighty  Brigid's  fame,  this_  humble 

verse 
Can  fitly  celebrate,  nor  half  rehearse, 
Our  Virgin,  type  of  Mary,  myriads  found 
Eager  to  praise,  and  hear  her  triumphs 

sound. 
She  girt  around  her,  day  and  night,  the 

zone 
Of  chaste  desires  ;  she  read  and  prayed 

alone  ; 
She  vigil  spent  ;   as  the  bright  sun  on 

high 
Her  radiance  warm'd  the  earth,  and  fill'd 

the  sky. 
Hear  ye  the  Virgin's  praise  !    her  gifts 

proclaim  ! 
The  victor's  garland  twines  around  that 

name. 
No  void  her  words  and  acts  e'er  left  be- 
tween 
Whose  vows  to  Christ  Were  pledg'd  and 

to  Heav'n's  Queen. 
Be  gracious  then,  O  sainted  Brigid,  free 
From  earthly  toils,  our  pi-ay'rs  ascend  to 

thee  ; 
Obtain  for  us,  from  God,  of  good  the 

giver, 
Tlie  Angel's  crown  of  rest  and  joy  for- 
ever." 

^^  In  Colgan's  opinion. 

^~^  These  comments  are  given  in  a  note. 


10 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS       [February  i. 


Brigid,   and  both  were  contained  in  one  book.^9     Now,  it  is  not  rightly 

known,  that  St.  Nennidius  or  St.  Fiech  wrote  a  life  of  St.  Brigid,  whether  in 

one  tract,  or  in  more 

than  one  part.    St. 

Ultan  —  surnamed 

likewise    Mac 

Concubar  —  bishop 

of   Ardbraccan,   in 

Meath,    is   reputed 

to    have    been    St. 

Brigid's     relative,9° 

on      her     mother's 

side.9^    Ware  treats 

about  him  and  his 

'\\Titings.9=» 

The  Fourth  Life 
of  our  saint,  as  pub- 
lished by  Colgan,93 
and  by  this  latter 
writer  attributed  to 
Animosus  or  Anim- 
chad,94  is  contained 
in  two  books.95  The 
editor  of  this  Trea- 
tise says,  the  Latin- 
ized form  of  Ani- 
mosus' name  is  not 
easily  recognisable 
as  an  Irish  one,  al- 
though its  vernacu- 
lar interpretation  be 
common.  This 
Latin  form,  how- 
ever, can  easily  be 
resolved  into  the 
name  Anmchadh  or 
Anamchodh.     This 


Kildare  Ruins. 


^'  The  Scholiast  even  cites  a  portion  of 
one  line,  taken  from  this  Hymn,  and  which 
agrees  with  what  Colgan  has  published. 

9°  Ussher  writes,  that  he  was  descended 
from  the  Conchabar  or  O'Conor  family,  to 
whom  belonged,  also,  Brodsechain,  daughter 
to  Dallbronaig,  and  the  mother  of  St.  Brigid. 
This  is  given  on  the  authority  of  a  certain 
Scholiast  in  an  Irish  hymn  composed  in 
praise  of  Brigid,  Some,  however,  attribute 
this  to  St.  Columkille,  who  lived  in  the  time 
of  King  Aed,  son  to  Ainmirech  :  while  others 
ascribe  it  to  Ultan,  Bishop  of  Ardbrechan, 
who  flourished  in  the  time  of  the  two  sons 
of  Aed  Slane.  See  "  De  Primordiis  Brita- 
nicanim  Ecclesiarum. "  p.  965. 

9'  Hence,  we  do  not  find  this  relationship 
shown  in  the  Pedigrees  of  St.  Brigid,  on  the 
father's  side,  as  given  by  Dr.  Todd  in  **  St. 


Patrick,  Apostle   of  Ireland,"  appendix  A, 
pp.  247  to  255. 

92  See  "  De  Scriptoribus  Hibernice,"  lib. 
i.,  cap.  iii.,  pp.  22,  23. 

93  See  "  Trias  Thau maturga."  Quarta  Vita 
S.  Brigidae,  pp.  546  to  563.  Appended  notes, 
pp.  563  to  566. 

9*  St.  Coelan,  or  his  prologuist,  enume- 
rates Animosus,    among  various   writers  of 
St.  Brigid's  Acts.     This  is  asserted  in  the 
following  verses  : 
"  Descripsit  multos  Animosus  nomine  libros 

De  vita,  et  studiis  Virginis,  ac  mentis," 
&c. 
^ec  ibid.,   p.    563.     Also,  **  Sexta^Vita'S. 
Brigidae,"  p.  582. 

95  These  comprise,  with  a  Prologue,  in  the 
First  Book  52,  in  the  Second  Book  100 — 
in  all  152  chapters.     As  published  in  the 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


It 


has  been  applied  to  various  Irish  saints  of  the  olden  time.  To  pass  over 
others,  there  was  a  venerable  and  pious  man,  who  died  in  the  year  980.9'^ 
He  is  called  Anmchadh,  Bishop  of  Kildare.  This  prelate  is  said  to  have 
departed  at  an  advanced  age,  after  the  course  of  his  virtuous  life  in  this 
world  had  been  completed.97  It  has  been  maintained,^^  that  until  some  other 
fairer  objections  be  advanced,  these  following  reasons  should  lead  us  to  con- 
clude, this  Anmchadh  or  Animosus  was  author  of  our  saint's  Fourth  Life.  In 
the  first  place,  circumstances  of  name  and  locality  favour  such  a  conclusion, 
as  no  one  could  more  appropriately  or  justly  manifest  his  reverence  and  de- 
votion towards  St.  Bridget,  than  a  native  of  Kildare,  especially  when  he  was 
either  a  prelate  or  a  monk.  As  it  is  related,  an  Animosus  wrote  St.  Brigid's 
Acts,  and  as  a  certain  prelate  of  Kildare  bore  that  name,  to  what  other  Ani- 
mosus than  he  can  we  more  probably  assign  the  performance  of  such  a  task  ? 
Again,  it  must  be  added,  the  author  of  this  Fourth  Life  often  insinuates,  that 
he  was  a  monk  or  prelate  of  Kildare,  and  in  a  Prologue  to  it,  he  addresses 
certain  brethren. 99  It  has  been  concluded,^°°  therefore,  that  he  must  have 
been  a  monk  or  an  abbot,  before  he  became  bishop  of  Kildare,'°'  in  accord- 
ance with  a  usage,  common  to  his  age  and  country.  In  the  next  place,  the 
author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life  indicates,  that  he  lived  so  late  as  the  tenth 
century,  at  which  period  Anmchod  of  Kildare  flourished. '°^  Yet,  there  are 
reasons,  also,  that  can  be  advanced  for  a  different  opinion.  The  author  of 
this  Fourth  Life  appears  to  have  written  only  two  books  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts  ; 
whereas,  Animosus  is  said  to  have  written  her  Acts  in  several  books.     This 


**  Trias  Thaumaturga, "  however,  22  of  these 
chapters  are  wanting  in  the  First  Book,  See 
**  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,"  Hb.  i.  p.  547. 

^  See  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  712,  713.  The  editor 
corrects  the  date  980  by  the  words,  '^\recte 
981.]"     See  also  n.  (y),  ibid. 

97  Colgan's  Copy  of  the  Four  Masters  adds, 
that  he  died  ' '  in  loco,  que  Kenntar  appella- 
tur."  The  latter  clause  seems  to  be  omitted 
in  Mr.  O'Donovan's  copy.  "  Omnes  fere 
Hiberniae  prselati  ex  Monachis  assumeban- 
tur."  See  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  Opera, 
vol.  v.  "Topographia  Hibernica,  Dist.  iii., 
cap.  xxix.  Edition  by  James  F.  Dimock, 
M.A. 

58  By  Colgan.  The  tovm  of  Kildare  has 
yet  many  interesting  vestiges  of  its  former 
religious  establishments.  The  accompany- 
ing engraving,  which  represents  one  of  these 
ruins,  has  been  executed  by  Mrs.  Millard, 
from  a  photograph  of  Frederick  W.  Mares, 
Dublin. 

99  This  Preface  runs  as  follows:  "My 
mind,  brethren,  is  filled  with  three  emotions, 
viz. ,  of  love,  of  shame,  and  of  fear.  Love 
urges  me  to  write  in  documents  a  life  of  the 
illustrious  Brigid,  lest  that  great  abundance 
of  virtues,  which  God's  grace  conferred  on 
her,  or  the  many  miracles  accomplished 
through  her,  should  be  hidden  and  unheard. 
I  feel  prevented  through  shame,  lest,  as  I 
suppose,  my  very  plain  discourse  or  poor 
judgment,  may  displease  my  educated  readers 
or  hearers.  Yet,  my  fear  is  still  greater,  for 
my  weakness  of  mind  in  the  composition  of 


such  a  work  presents  a  danger ;  since,  I  dread 
the  taunts  of  critics  and  enemies  tasting  my 
very  small  intellectual  viands.  But,  as  the 
Lord  ordered  His  poor  to  offer  little  gifts, 
when  about  to  build  His  tabernacle,  ought 
we  not  give  ours  to  build  up  His  church  ? 
"What  is  she  but  a  congregation  of  the  just  ? 
How  is  a  prudent  life  formed,  unless  through 
the  examples  and  records  of  the  prudent? 
Therefore  shall  I  give  a  first  place  to  love,  I 
shall  trample  on  shame,  and  I  shall  tolerate 
the  carpers.  I  adjure  you,  O  wise  reader 
and  intelligent  hearer,  that  you  overlook  the 
text  arrangement ;  and  consider  only  the 
miracles  of  God  and  of  His  blessed  hand- 
maid. Indeed,  every  husbandman  should 
be  fed  on  the  fruits  drawn  from  the  furrows 
of  his  own  field." 

^°°  By  Colgan. 

^°^  The  "  Vita  S.  Brigidse,"  by  an  anony- 
mous author,  and  from  a  Manuscript  belong- 
ing to  Hugh  Ward,  has  been  printed  by 
Father  John  Boland  in  the  "Acta  Sancto- 
rum," tomus  i,  Februarii  i.  Vita  iv., 
Lipartita  S.  Brigida;,  pp.  155  to  172.  Usher 
often  cites  it  as  the  anonymous  or  inedited 
Life  in  two  books.  The  author  lived  before 
1 1 52.  See  Sir  Thomas  Duffus  Hardy's 
"  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Materials  relating 
to  the  History  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland," 
vol.  i.,  part  i.,  pp.  108,  109.  The  writer 
is  supposed  to  be  Animosus,  by  Colgan. 

'°' See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  n.  i.,  pp.  563. 
Also,  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  ii.,  "  Writers  of 
Ireland,"  Book  i.,  chap,  iv.,  p.  37. 


13  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


occurred,  before  the  time  in  which  St.  Coelan,  or  at  least  the  author  of  that 
prologue  to  his  metrical  acts  of  our  saint,  wrote.  Now,  Colgan  thinks  St. 
Coelan  wrote  St.  Brigid's  Acts  previous  to  a.d.  8oo'°3  in  such  hypothesis, 
it  is  supposed,  that  Animosus,  who  wrote  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  must  be  distin- 
guished from  Animosus  or  Animchadh,  who  died  a.d.  980.  Again,  the  Irish 
word,  Anmire,  seems  to  have  an  identical  meaning  with  Animosus.  At  least 
four  Anmires  are  enumerated  among  the  saints  of  Ireland:  i.  Anmire  of 
Alech,^°4  2.  Anmire  of  Cluanfoda,''°5  3.  Anmire  of  Ros-hua  Chonna,^°^  4. 
Anmire  of  Rath-nuadha,'°7  It  may  be  argued,  that  some  one  of  the  forego- 
ing, or  another  person,  bearing  the  same  name,  different  from  the  Animchod, 
who  died  in  980,  had  been  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts.  The  matter  re- 
mains, not  yet  fully  determined.  But  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life, 
whoever  he  may  be,  is  deemed  trustworthy.  ^°^  Although  he  flourished  at  a 
comparatively  late  period,  and  wrote  in  a  rude  style,  his  Acts  relate,  in  a  more 
copious  and  comprehensive  manner,  than  any  other  writer's,  almost  all  St. 
Brigid's  transactions.  Also,  he  gives  many  particulars,  concerning  the  anti- 
quities of  Ireland,  which,  for  the  most  part,  are  either  omitted  or  obscurely 
related,  by  other  biographers. '°9  The  Fifth  of  St.  Brigid's  Lives,  as  published 
by  Colgan,  was  taken  from  a  Manuscript  belonging  to  the  Irish  College  at 
Salamanca"°  Although  containing  fewer  Acts  and  miracles  of  St.  Brigid, 
than  most  of  her  other  Lives  ;  yet,  this  biography,  making  allowance  for 
many  fables,'"  surpasses  most  of  them  in  elegance  and  correctness  of  style, 
as  also  in  its  more  systematic  and  complete  arrangement.  "^  For  these 
reasons,  it  seems  more  suited  for  reading  in  the  refectoiies  of  religious  com- 
munities. It  came  into  Colgan's  hands,  in  an  imperfect  state  ;"3  yet,  he 
thought,  that  not  more  than  the  first,  and  a  part  of  its  second  chapter,  had 
been  wanting.  "4  The  editor  endeavoured  to  supply  such  missing  portions 
in  that  distinctive  character,  known  as  the  Italic ;  while  special  titles  are  pre- 
fixed by  him  to  the  several  chapters,  and  placed  in  the  margin.  He  thinks 
there  can  be  no  question  about  the  author  being  Laurence  of  Durham. "5 
This,  it  is  supposed,  can  be  shown,  from  the  elegant  style,  nationality  of 
authorship,  and  the  period,  in  which  it  had  been  written  ;  for,  in  the  second 
chapter,  its  author  indicates  his  being  an  Englishman,  and  that  he  composed 
this  life,  after  the  Normans  came  to  England.  He  likewise  wrote  it  before 
the  Anglo-Norman  invasion  of  Ireland.  Now,  as  he  flourished  after  the  year 
1065 — "^  about  which  date  the  Norman  conquest  of  England  commenced — 

'°3  This  he  endeavours  to  show,  in  his  notes  to  1 85. 

to  "Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,"  nn.  I,  2,  3,  pp,  "3  As  this  Manuscript  was  acephalous,  its 

596  to  598,  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  author's  name  had  not  been  found  prefixed. 

'^^  His  feast  is  celebrated  on  the  loth  of  "*  The  following  MSS.  copies  of  this  life 

June.  are  extant  :  Vita  S.   Brigidce,   auctore  Lau- 

'°5  This  saint  is   commemorated   on   the  rentio    Dunelmensi,    MS.     Salmanticensis, 

1 5th  of  September.  published  by  Colgan  and  Bollandus.     Defi- 

'°'' His  festival  occurs  on  the  25th  of  Sep-  ciencies  in  this  may  be  supplied  from  the 

tember.  following  copies  in  Latin  :  Vita  S.  Brigittae 

'°7  This  saint's  feast  is  held  on  the  20th  of  Virginis    a    Laurentio    Dunelmensi.     MS. 

November.  Bodl.  Laud.  Mis.  668  (1052)  106.  veil.  4to 

""^  Such  is  Colgan's  expressed  opinion.  XIL  cent.  Again,  S.  Brigidic  Vita  per  Lau- 

*°9  So  far  as  came  under  Colgan's  observa-  rentium  Dunelmensem,  pracvia  Epistola  ad 

tion.  Ethelredum    Dispensatorem.      MS.    Coll. 

"°  Therefore  it  is  called  by  him  the  Sala-  Balliol.  ccxxvi.  f.  86-94.  veil,  fol,  dble.  col. 

mancan  Manuscript.  XHL  cent.     Tanner  refers  to  both  of  these 

"'See     Dr.    Lanigan's    "Ecclesiastical  copies  in  his  "  Bibliotheca,"  p.  472. 

History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i,,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  "s  This  writer  is  known  to  have  flourished 

ii.,  n.  18,,  p.   381.  about  the  year  1140,  and  he  wrote  a  singu- 

"=^  This  Life  has  been  printed  in  the  Bol-  larly  learned  and  eloquent  Life  of  St.  Brigid 

landists'  "  Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  Feb-  complete,  in  one  book, 

ruarii  i.,  Vita  v.,  S.  Brigidae  Virg.  pp.  172  ""Dr.  Lingard  assigns  the  battle  of  Hast- 


I 


February  i.]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


and  prior  to  the  iiyi,"^  when  the  English  invasion  of  Ireland  began ;  it 
appears  probable  enough,  that  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fifth  Life  must  have 
been  the  aforesaid  Laurence  of  Durham.  The  Sixth  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"^  is 
a  long  poem,  written  in  Latin  Hexameter  verse.  The  editor  supposes  St. 
Cholian  or  Coelan,  a  monk  of  Inis-Keltra  monastery,  on  the  Shannon,  to 
have  been  its  author."^  It  was  published  from  an  old  Manuscript,  belonging 
to  the  library  of  Monte  Cassino,  and  it  had  been  collated,  with  a  copy  taken 
from  the  Vatican  library,  as  also  with  various  other  Manuscript  exemplars. 
In  the  first  note,  post-fixed  to  our  Saint's  Sixth  Life,  we  are  told,  that  over 
three  months  before,  when  Colgan  had  begim  passing  St.  Brigid's  Acts 
through  the  press,  he  received  from  the  Rev.  Father  Bernard  Egan,"°  a  certain 
fragment  of  this  biography. '^^  A  prologue  is  prefixed,  commencing  with 
•'  Finibus  occiduis,"  &c.  This  latter  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  composition 
of  St.  Donatus,^^^  Bishop  of  Fesule,  in  Tuscany,'^3  and  who  flourished  in  the 
ninth  century.  But,  the  life  itself  was  marked,  as  having  been  written  by  a 
monk  of  Iniskeltra,  in  Lough  Derg,  and  who  was  named  Chilien.  This 
writer  Colgan  conjectures  to  have  been  the  same  as  Coelan  of  Iniskeltra,  who 
was  known  in  the  eighth  century.'^^  But,  with  much  apparent  truth,^^5  this 
fragment  has  been  referred  to  a  later  period,  in  which  it  is  suspected  its 
author  lived.  Dr.  Lanigan  believes,  that  if  Chilien  lived  in  the  eighth  cen- 
tury,"^ it  must  have  been  in  the  latter  part;  although  this  historian  does  not 
think  it  worth  while,  to  enter  upon  a  long  discussion  regarding  him."7 

Having  received  this  Sixth  Life,  from  the  Cassinian  MS.,  and  through 
the  zealous  Father  already  mentioned,  three  other  counterpart  copies  of 
these  same  Acts  were  procured.  One  copy  came  from  the  Vatican  Librar)*-, 
one  from  the  Library  of  his  Eminence  Anthony  Barberini,  and  a  third  was 
sent  by  the  celebrated  Franciscan  Father,  Luke  Wadding.     All  these  copies 


ings  to  the  14th  of  October,  A.D.  1066.  See  ^^-^  Dr.  Lanigan  thinks,  that  the  circum- 

*' History  of  England,"  vol.  i,,  chap,  vi.,  p.  stance  of  Chilien  calling  the  mother  of  St. 

309.  Brigid  a  countess  seems  to  indicate  a  com- 

^'7  Henry  II.  landed  at  Waterford  on  the  paratively  late  period  for  this  composition. 

i8th  of  October,  A.D.  1 171.  See  Rev.  John  "^s  Speaking    about    Donat,     Bishop    of 

O'Hanlon's  "  Catechism  of  Irish  History,"  Fiesole,  who  flourished  in  the  ninth  century, 

Lesson  xiii,,  p.  116.  Harris  observes  :  '*  He  seems  also  to  have 

^'^  As  published  by  Colgan.  been  the  author  of  a  Description  of  Ireland, 

^*9  In  Harris'  Ware,  Chaelian  or  Coelan,  in   Hexameter  and   Pentameter  verse ;  or 

a  monk  of  the  Abbey  of  Inis-Keltra,  in  the  rather  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  containing  a 

diocese  of  Killaloe,  and  who  wrote  the  Life  Description   of  Ireland,    of  which   Colgan 

of  St.  Brigid  in  verse,  is  said  to  have  been  a  hath  given  as  a  fragment,  which   is  prefixed 

contemporary  with  yEngus  Mac-Tiprait,  who  also  as  a  prologue  to  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 

died  745.     The  festival  of  this  Chilien  is  supposed  to  be  written   by  St.   Chaelan." 

assigned  to  the  29th  of  July  in  our  domestic  See  Harris'  Ware,   *' Writers  of  Ireland," 

Martyrologies.  vol.    ii.,    chap,  iv.,  p.    47,  and  chap,  vi., 

'^°  He  was  a  Benedictine  Abbot  and  an  p.  57. 

Irishman.  ^^^  This  Chilien,  whether  author  or  not  of 

'^^  It  commences  with  these  verses  :  both  the  prologue  and  Life — as  stated  in  his 

"  Quadam forte  die  sanctus  Patricius  almus  "Trias     Thaumaturga,"    Sexta     Vita    S. 

Gemma     sacerdotum     synodali    carmine  Brigidse,  nn.  I,  2,  3,  p.  597 — was,  in  CoI« 

sedit,"  &c.  gan's  opinion,  the  same  as  Coelan  of  Inis- 

From  a  hurried  reading,  it  was  thensupposed,  Keltra,  who  seems  to  have  flourished  in  the 

that  the  poem  in  question  began  with  these  eighth  century.   See  "  Ecclesiastical  History 

lines,  and  Colgan  stated  as  much  in  the  com-  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,   sec.   ii.,  n. 

mon  preface  to  St.  Brigid's  Acts.     But  he  18.,  p.  381.     But,  Bollandus  thought  him  to 

afterwards  discovered  his  mistake,  when  this  be  a  different  person.     See  "Acta  Sancto* 

holy  virgin's  five  first  lives  had  been  printed.  rum,"  Februarii,  tomus  i.    Vita  S.  Brigidae. 

^-^  See  his  Life  at  the  22nd  of  October.  Commentaria  Prrevia,  sec.  2. 

*^3See  Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturga,"  '"7  See    "Ecclesiastical   History  of  Ixt- 

Quinta  Appendix  ad  Acta  S.  Patricii,  cap.  land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  n,  18,  p. 

XX.,  p.  255.  381. 


14  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.      [February  i. 


were  diligently  collated  by  the  editor,  who  found  them  severally  mutilated, 
worn,  abounding  in  false  emendations  of  librarians,  or  commentators,  de- 
formed with  verbal  transpositions  and  changes,,  to  such  a  degree,  that  the 
sense  of  some  verses  could  not  be  discovered,  while  the  proper  number  of 
feet  and  the  requisite  syllabic  measure  were  wanting,  in  many  lines.  "^  Yet, 
through  the  collector's  great  industry,  who  observed  closely  the  discrepancy 
in  his  copies,  we  are  indebted  for  the  pubHcation  of  this  old  Tract.  The 
editor  endeavoured  to  follow  authorities  he  considered  most  authentic,  in  his 
several  copies  ;  for  he  observed,  that  in  many  instances,  the  just  number  and 
measure  of  the  verse  could  be  found  in  some  particular  Manuscripts,  while  in 
others  they  were  expressed,  sometimes  by  abbreviations,  again  by  a  transpo- 
sition of  words,  and  often  by  some  closing  or  arbitrary  notation.  The  lines 
were  frequently  found  so  greatly  mutilated,  that  they  bore  a  prosaic  rather 
than  a  metrical  appearance.  So  many  omissions  and  licences  on  the 
part  of  copyists  were  detected,  that  the  editor  felt  obliged  to  affix  various 
marginal  annotations  to  this  poem.  "9  Not  alone  through  the  incautiousness 
of  copyists — a  fruitful  source  of  error  in  old  documents — many  transpositions 
of  words  had  been  introduced,  and  certain  synonymous  terms  were  substituted 
for  others ;  but,  besides,  many  abbreviations  of  doubtful  meaning  were  found, 
while  these  left  the  sense  imperfect.  ^3©  Even  unaccountable  caprice  and 
mutilations  caused  some  of  the  chapters  to  be'  acephalous  or  truncated,  while 
some  were  altogether  omitted,  as  might  be  seen  in  the  still  imperfect  and 
published  Sixth  Life.^3^  There  certain  lines  are  subjoined  from  the  Barberini 
Manuscript,  and  which  were  wanting  in  that  of  Monte  Cassino,  while  breaks  are 
discoverable  in  the  narrative  and  structural  course  of  the  poem.^32  Although 
many  particulars  relating  to  St.  Brigid  are  found  in  the  Five  first  Lives,  as 
published  by  Colgan,  and  which  are  missing  in  the  Sixth  ;'33  yet,  the  editor  sup- 
poses this  attributable  to  no  other  cause,  than  to  the  deplorable  liberties  taken 
by  scribes  or  librarians.  Here  and  there  have  been  detected  many  elisions 
and  erasures.  It  can  scarcely  be  doubted,  that  these  manipulators  altoge- 
ther pretermitted  other  matters.  As  this  old  and  careful  writer  relates,  many 
of  St.  Brigid's  Acts  were  left  out  by  others,  and  as  it  is  indicated  in  the  Pro- 
logue, that  he  read  her  Lives  written  by  St.  Ultan,  Eleran  and  Animosus ; 


*='  But  for  such  defects,  it  must  have  been  immediately  afterwards,  verses  were  maimed 

extremely  valuable.  in  prosodial  number  and   quantity,    while 

"9  He  did   not   alter    the  poem  in  the  they  were  disfigured  with   blots.     Colgan 

slightest   tittle,   except  in  those  instances,  tells  us  he  published  the  poem,  as  he  found  it, 

w^here  noted  and  obvious  omissions  of  copy-  changing  nothing    therein,    \i'\\\\  only  the 

ists  had  left  discrepancies  between  certain  foregoing  exceptional  emendations, 

parts  and  lines,  or  had  so  crudely  amended  '3^  This  is  noticed  by  the  editor  in  a  great 

them,  that  it  could  readily  be  conjectured  variety  of  instances. 

these  emendations    did    not  represent  the  *33  Colgan 's  divisions  of  the  six  lives  are  as 

original  writer's  words.  follow,   viz. :    First.   The  Metrical  life,  53 

*3o  It  was  not  possible  for  the  industry  or  stanzas  of  four  lines  each,  Irish  with  Latin 
research  of  either  collator  or  editor,  to  repair  translation.  Secondly.  The  Second  Prose 
so  many  mistakes,  or  restore  so  many  omis-  life  has  36  chapters,  with  a  prologue, 
sions.  Wherefore,  Colgan  only  endeavoured  Thirdly.  The  Third  Prose  life  has  131  chap- 
to  place  in  due  order,  those  words  which  ters,  with  supplementary  metrical  lines, 
seemed  transposed,  in  certain  passages,  and  Fourthly.  The  Fourth  Prose  life  is  divided 
cautiously  to  substitute  others  in  place  of  into  two  books — the  first  book  containing 
certain  contracted  words,  doubtful  in  the  52  chapters,  and  the  last  100.  It  is  prefaced 
reading,  or  which  through  the  error  of  the  hy  a  prologue.  Fifthly.  The  Fifth  Prose 
copyists  were  put  for  terms  having  a  sup-  life  comprises  58  chapters.  Sixthly.  The 
posed  affinity.  Sixth  Metrical  life   contains  68  sections — 

*3i  Here  and  there,   certain  elegant   and  more  or  less  imperfect — with  prefatory  and 

glowing  phrases  were  found,  especially  in  supplementary  lines, 
descriptive  and  metaphorical  passages  ;  then 


February  i.]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


IS 


hence,  it  cannot  be  supposed,  he  would  have  passed  over  so  many  accounts, 
faithfully  related  by  various  other  writers,  or  that  he  would  not  have  included 
several  accounts,  not  given  by  them. ^34 

The  Lives  of  St.  Brigid,  published  by  Colgan,  are  not  the  only  authorities 
available  for  her  Acts.  In  the  Book  of  Lismore,  which  had  been  written^35 
for  Mac  Carthy  Reagh,  or  Finghen  Mac  Diarmata,  and  which  is  now  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire's  property,  there  is  an  Irish  sermon  on  the  Life  of  St. 
Brigid. '36  This  has  been  translated  into  English,'37  transcribed,  and  collated 
with  a  similar  copy,  but  having  varied  readings,  in  the  Leabhar  Breac.'38 
Besides  these,  there  were  many  lives  of  St.  Brigid,  written  in  the  Irish 
tongue.  Four  only  of  these,  however,  came  into  Colgan's  hands.'39  There 
is  scarcely  any  considerable  library  in  which  the  Acts  of  St.  Brigid  will  not 
be  found.  Her  memory  likewise  has  been  commemorated  by  a  Divine  Office, 
not  only  throughout  the  whole  of  Ireland,  but  even  in  many  Dioceses  of 
England,  Scotland,  Belgium,  France  and  Germany,  ^^o 

A  Life  of  St.  Brigid  has  been  inserted  in  the  collection  of  John  Cap- 
grave,  ^^i  This  is  taken  apparently  from  the  work  of  Cogitosus.^^^  A  certain 
anonymous  writer  edited  a  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  in  German,  and  this  was 
printed  at  Augusta,  in  1478.^43  Another  biography  of  the  Saint  had  been 
printed'44  at  Argentineans  Valentinus  Leuctius,  in  his  work,  "  De  Sanctis," 
has  special  reference  to  St.  Brigid.  In  addition  to  those  tracts  already 
mentioned,  Vincentius  Bellovacensis^'^^  wrote  a  summary  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts 
in  his  book.  ^47  St.  Antoninus'^s  has  also  treated  about  this  illustrious 
Virgin.^'^9  Guido  de  Castris,'5o  Petrus  de  Natalibus,'5i  John  of  Tinmouth,'52 
Surius,'53  in  two  different  acts,'54  Harseus,  Messingham,^55  Cornelius  Grasius/56 


*34  Such  is  Colgan's  expressed  opinion. 
He  supposes  such  omissions  ax'e  attributable 
rather  to  incompetent  commentators  than  to 
the  original  author. 

^35  By  Aonghus  O'Calladh. 

^36  At  folio  53,  col.  2,  of  this  MS.,  there 
is  a  Gaelic  entry  given  in  J.  T.  Gilbert's 
"History  of  the  Viceroys  of  Ireland," 
notes  to  chap,  xi,,  p.  603.  The  following 
is  an  English  translation  :  "  Let  every  one 
who  shall  read  this  Life  of  [Saint]  Brigid 
give  a  blessing  on  the  souls  of  the  couple  for 
whom  it  was  written." 

^31'  By  Professor  Bryan  O'Looney  of  the 
Catholic  University,  who  has  obligingly 
lent  his  Irish  transcript,  with  his  English 
translation,  to  the  writer. 

^38  Belonging  to  the  koyal  Irish  Academyy* 

^39  As  they  contained,  for  the  most  ^^?^ 
only  particulars,  which  were  to  be  -found  in 
various  Acts  published  by  him,  Colgan 
thought  it  quite  unnecessary  to  present  more 
than  an  Irish  Hymn,  composed  by  St. 
Brogan,  with  its  Latin  version. 

*4°  See,  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Tertia 
Vita  S.  Brigidse,  n.  7,  p.  543.  Quarta  Vita 
S.  Brigidae,  nn,  15,  16,  p.  564,  ibid.  Quinta 
Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  viii.,  p.  569,  and  nn. 
9,  II,  p.  640,  ibid. 

'''♦'  In  his  "Nova  Legenda  Anglise"  we 
find  "  Vita  S.  Brigidse  Virginis,"  fol,  xlix., 
1.,  li.,  Kalendas  Februarii.  See  notices  of 
this  work  and  of  the  writer  in  S.  Austin 
Allibone's  "Critical  Dictionary  of  English 
Literature,"  &c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  336. 


'42  Agreeing  with  it  is  the  MS.  Cott. 
Tiber.,  E.  i.,  ff.  32-34. 

^"♦3  This  was  probably  Triers,  in  Germany, 
although  many  towns  bear  a  similar  Latin 
name. 

^'♦4  A.D.  1506. 

'■♦s  Probably  this  was  Argentan,  in  Lower 
Normandy,  or  Argenton,  of  the  Orleannois, 
in  France. 

146  Qr  Vincent  De  Beauvais,  a  French 
Dominican  savant,  who  lived  from  about 
1 190  to  1264.  See  Laurence  E.  Phillips' 
"Dictionary  of  Biographical  Reference,"  p. 

937. 

'47  See  "Speculum  Historise,"  lib.  xxii., 
cap.  29. 

'48  He  died  the  2nd  of  May,  A.  D.  1459. 
His  feast  is  kept  on  the  loth  of  May. 

'49  In  "Cronicon,"  pars,  ii.,  tit.  xii., 
cap,  6. 

'5°  Abbot  of  St.  Denis,  who  wrote,  "  De 
Vitis  Sanctorum." 

'S'  Lib.  iii.,  cap.  69. 

'52  In  "  De  Sanctis  Britannise." 

'53  See  "De  Probatis  Sanctorum  Histo* 
riis,"  &c.,  tomus  i.,  pp.  806  to  809. 
Cologne  Edition,  A.D.  1576.  In  the  other 
edition  I  Februarii,  pp.  19  to  25. 

'54  The  first  of  these  is  comprised  in  fifteen 
paragraphs,  and  the  second  in  thirty-two 
paragraphs. 

'55  See  "Florilegium  Ins ulse  Sanctorum," 
pp.  189  to  207. 

'5^  At  the  1st  of  Februar)'. 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


\ 


^z.  have  all  made  their  respective  commemorations  of  her.  Robert  of 
Gloucester's?  \\Tote  a  Biography  of  this  venerable  Virgin,  and  some  manu- 
script copies  of  it  are  preserved/^s  The  Right  Rev.  David  Rothe,  bishop 
of  Ossory,  published  a  beautiful  dissertation,  intitled,  "  De  Brigida  Thauma- 
turga."'S9 

Likewise,  in  the  "  Hystorie  Sanctorum,"  published  at  Louvain,'^°  we  have 
a  short  biography  of  this  most  pious  virgin.  In  Lippeloo's  Collections'^' 
the  Acts  of  St.  Brigid  are  to  be  met  with.'^^  Also,  in  the  "  Breviary  of 
Aberdeen,"'63  the  Life  and  Miracles  of  this  holy  virgin  are  recorded  in  six 
Lessons. '^+  In  a  Latin  translation,'^5  with  additions  to  that  celebrated  work 
of  the  Spanish  Jesuit,  Father  Ribadenira,'^^  the  editor  has  placed  this  lily  of 
virgins  in  his  Flower-Garden  of  the  Saints. '^7  Canon  Giacomo  Certani'^^ 
has  written  her  Acts  in  Italian. '^9  Lives  of  St.  Brigid  were  published  by 
Henry  Adrian  and  Herbert  Rosweyde,'7o  in  Flemish.  A  Father  Robert 
Rochfort,  formerly  Rector  of  the  Franciscan  College  at  Louvain,  wrote  in 
English,  a  Life  of  this  illustrious  virgin.  The  Bollandists'7i  have  published 
various  acts  of  this  holy  virgin.  After  having  given  a  previous  commentary 
in  fourteen  chapters  and  one  hundred  and  fourteen  paragraphs,  with  six 
lessons  from  an  office,  their  First  Life  contains  seventeen  chapters  and  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  sections  ;  a  Second  Life  contains  eight  chapters  and 
40  sections;  a  Third  Life  in  metre  has  ten  chapters  and  seventy-two 
sections ;  a  Fourth  Life  is  in  two  Books — the  first  Book  containing  5  chap- 
ters and  55  sections — the  second  Book  12  chapters  and  82  sections ;  while 
a  Fifth  Life  of  St.  Brigid  is  comprised  in  15  chapters  and  93  sections.'?* 


'57  He  died  about  1290.  See  Laurence 
E,  Phillips'  "Dictionary  of  Biographical 
Reference,"  p.  800. 

^58  Among  these  are  written  in  old  English 
a  MS.  C.C.C.  Cant.  145,  veil.  sm.  fol.,  xiv. 
cent.,  apparently  by  Robert  of  Gloucester.  It 
commences  with  the  words  : — "  Sain  Bride 
that  holi  maide  of  Irlonde  was,"  &c. 
Another  copy,  with  some  differences  of 
reading,  is  a  MS.  Ashmole  43,  ff.  15-18,  b. 
veil.  8vo,  circa  A.D.  1300.  Again,  there 
is  another  old  English  Life  of  S.  Bride, 
with  an  illumination  of  the  saint  very  fairly 
executed.  It  is  classed  MS.  Bodl.  Tanner. 
17,  f.  12,  veil,  fol.,  XV.  cent.  Also,  a  MS. 
Bodl.  Laud.  Misc.  463  (1596),  ff.  6-9,  vel. 
fol.,  xiv.  cent.  Another  Life  of  S.  Brigid 
(old  English)  MS.  Bodl.  779  (2567),  ff.  127, 
b. — 128  b.  paper  folio,  xv.  cent.  The  fore- 
going seem  to  be  different  copies  of  Robert 
of  Gloucester's  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  with  some 
differences  in  the  text. 

'59  Nearly  all  of  these  tracts  were  issued 
in  the  Latin  language. 

"**  There  occurs,  Brigida  Virgo,  at  fol. 
XX.,  xxi. 

""  See  *' VitK  Sanctorum,"  vol.  i. 

'^»  At  the  1st  of  February,  pp.  553,  558. 

**3  This  was  first  printed  in  1509.  The 
Bollandists  have  reprinted  from  it  the  six 
Lessons  of  St.  Brigid's  Office  in  "Acta 
Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii  i.,  Com- 
mentarius  proevius,  §  xv.,  p.  118. 

'**  The  Breviary  of  Aberdeen  has  been 
teprinted,  under  the  Editorship  of  the  Rev, 


William  Blew,  in  two  vols.,  410,  double 
cols. 

^*s  Published  at  Cologne,  A.  D.  1630, 
"  apud  Joannem  Kinkium  sub  Monocerote." 
This  translation  purports  to  give  useful  notes 
and  the  festivals  of  recent  saints.  It  con* 
tains  a  double  Index  of  Saints,  and  of  sub* 
jects  for  preachers. 

'^^  In  the  second  part  of  the  Latin  version 
of  Ribadeneira's  "Flos  Sanctorum,"  &c., 
we  have  a  Life  of  St.  Bridget,  at  the  1st  of 
Febraary,  pp.  82,  83.  See  his  biogi-aphy 
in  Rees'  "Cyclopaedia,"  vol.  xxx.,  sub  voce 
"  Ribadeneira. " 

•^7  In  the  Dublin  edition  of  an  English 
translation  of  Ribadeneira,  the  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  is  not  found. 

'"^  He  lived  about  1670.  See  Phillips' 
"  Dictionary  of  Biographical  Reference,"  p. 

'^  His  work,  in  a  4to  volume,  is  intituled, 
"La  Santita  Prodigiosa,  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibemese." 

'7°  This  celebrated  Dutch  hagiogi-apher 
lived  from  1569  to  1629.  See  Phillips* 
"  Dictionary  of  Biographical  Reference,"  p. 
811. 

'7'  See  Rees'  "Cyclopaedia,"  vol.  iv.,  sub 
voce,  "  Bollandists." 

'7=*  See  "Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  i. 
Februarii,  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  pp.  99  to  185. 
In  the  Addenda  to  this  Tome  are  to  be 
found  two  paragraphs  referring  to  St.  Brigid, 
pp.  941,  942. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


17 


Adrien  Baillet  has  written  her  Life,  in  the  French  Language,^73  and  included 
it  in  his  hagiographical  work.  ^74  Bishop  Challoner^^s  has  inserted  a  Life  of 
St.  Brigide  or  Bride,  Virgin  and  Abbess,  at  the  ist  of  February. '76  The 
Rev.  Alban  Butler  has  some  brief  notices  of  the  Saint  in  his  work.^77  Also, 
among  the  Irish  Cistercian  Monk's  extracts  from  the  same,  an  account  has  been 
reproduced. '78  a  very  elegantly  written  biography  of  the  Virgin  Abbess 
Bridget  has  been  composed  by  the  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould. '79  Bishop  Forbes 
has  likewise  inserted  her  Acts.'^° 

Hardly  any  important  collection  of  Manuscripts  can  be  met  with,  in 
which  we  do  not  find  some  Acts  or  memorials  of  the  great  St.  Brigid.*^^ 
Several  Lives  and  Hymns  relating  to  this  holy  Virgin,  and  in  the  native 
language,  are  to  be  found  among  those  Tracts, '^^  contained  in  the  Royal 
Irish  Academy's  Library.  Among  the  Messrs.  Hodges'  and  Smith's  Collec- 
tion of  Irish  Manuscripts  belonging  to  this  noble  national  institution, 
there  is  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.^^3  Another  small  quarto  paper  Manu- 
script contains  an  Irish  Life  of  this  holy  Virgin.  ^^^  Besides  these,  we  find  a 
third  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,'^^  in  this  collection  alone.  Again  we  meet 
with  two  paper  Manuscripts — one  small, ^^^  the  other  a  folio^^7 — belonging  to 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  and  containing  a  Life  of  St.  Brigid  in  Irish.  The 
Library  of  Trinity  College,^^^  Dublin,  has  another  interesting  collection  of 
documents,  which  serves  to  illustrate  her  Acts. ^^9  The  Irish  Catholic 
University  Library  has  some  modern  Manuscripts,  relating  to  the  Life  of 
this  Virgin  Saint.  Archbishop  Marsh's  Library  furnishes  an  old  Manuscript 
Life  of  St.  Brigid. '9°    English  collections, '9^  as  among  those  of  Oxford,  Cam- 


^73  At  the  1st  of  February,  in  Baillet's 
*'  Les  Vies  cles  Saints,"  appears  an  account 
of  St.  Brigid,  Virgin,  Abbess  of  Kildare, 
and  Patroness  of  Ireland.  Tome  i.,  pp. 
24  to  26. 

^74  It  seems  strange  that  an  account  of  this 
is  omitted,  when  treating  about  the  author's 
other  works  in  the  "New  and  General 
Biographical  Dictionary,"  &c,,  vol.  ii.,  pp. 
24  to  27.     London,  1798. 

*75  His  Life,  written  in  English  by  his 
Vicar-General,  James  Bernard,  appeared  at 
London,  a.d.  1784,  in  8vo.  See  Feller's 
*'  Dictionnaire  Historique,"  tome  iv.,  p.  296. 
Paris  edition,  1827,  etseq.,  8vo. 

'76  See  "Britannia  Sancta,"  parti.,  pp. 
91  to  95. 

'77  In  Butler's  "  Lives  of  the  Fathers, 
Martyrs  and  other  Principal  Saints,"  vol. 
ii,,  at  the  1st  of  February,  is  entered  St. 
Bridget,  or  Bride,  V.  Abbess,  and  Patron  of 
Ireland. 

^78  See  "  Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints,"  &c., 
pp.  9,  10. 

'79  See  "Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii., 
February  I,  pp.  14  to  22. 

'8°  See  "Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints," 
pp.  287  to  291. 

'^'  The  large  folio  vellum  MS.,  in  the 
R.  I.  A.  copy  of  "Leabhar  Breac,"  con- 
tains a  Life  of  St.  Bridget.     No.  40,  6. 

^^^  Some  compositions  in  Latin  regarding 
her  are  also  preserved.  The  xviii.  vol.  of 
O'Longan  MSS.  in  the  R.  I.  A.  contains, 
Hymnus  de  virtutibus  et  miraculis  sanctse 
Brigidse  Kildariensis  abbatissse  et  Patronae 
a   Sancto   Brigano,    p.    82.     Vol.  xLi.  of 

Vol.  It 


O'Longan  MSS.  in  the  R.  I.  A.  contains  a 
copy  of  St.  Brogan's  short  poem  on  St. 
Brigid,  seven  quatrains,  p.  143.  The  XLI. 
vol.  of  O'Longan  MSS.  in  the  R.  I.  A. 
contains  St.  Brogan's  Hymn  to  St.  Brigid, 
published  by  Colgan,  p.  144.  The  Liv. 
vol.  of  O'Longan  MSS.  in  the  R.  I.  A.  con- 
tains a  poem  on  St.  Brigid,  improperly 
ascribed  to  St.  Suibne,  the  son  of  Colman, 
p.  176. 

'^3  This  is  numbered  12. 

'^4  This  is  numbered  165. 

^^5  This  is  numbered  168. 

'^^  This  is  classed  No.  49,  4. 

*^7  This  is  classed  No.  39,  6. 

^^^  Here  are  tracts  :  —  De  S.  Brigida. 
MS.  Trin,  Coll.  Dublin.  290.  Miracula 
B.  Brigidee,  MS.  Trin.  Coll.  Dublin.  647. 
Vita  S.  Brigid^,  MS.  Trin.  Coll.  Dubhn. 
647.  This  is  a  transcript  from  the  Cotto- 
nian  MS.  Nero.,  E.  i..  No.  316.  Also  Vita 
S.  Brigid^,  MS.  Trin.  Coll.  Dublin.  This 
is  a  transcript  from  a  Ratisbon  Manuscript, 
with  emendations  by  Ussher.  See  Sir 
Thomas  Duffus  Hardy's  "  Descriptive 
Catalogue  of  Materials  Relating  to  the 
History  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,"  vol. 
L,  part  i.,  p.  114. 

'«9  The  Trinity  College  MS.,  classed  H. 
I.  II,  contains  I.  A  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  ac- 
cording to  the  accounts  of  learned  antiqua- 
rians and  handed  down  by  tradition.  It 
begins,  -peAccuf  -oo  "oubcAc. 

'9°  It  is  classed,  "Vita  S.  Brigidae," 
Virg.  vol.  3,  4,  23.     MSS. 

'9'  The  following  are  among  these  : — 
Vita  S.  Brigidse,  Scotice-Mutila  MS.  Insul. 
C 


i8 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


bridge,  the  British  Museum'92  and  Lambeth,  as  also  Scotch  and  European^93 
Libraries,  are  stored  with  different  Acts  of  this  illustrious  Saint.  There  is  an 
Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  transcribed  by  Michael  O'Clery,  and  kept  among  the 
MS.  records  of  the  Burgundian  Library,  at  Bruxelles.'s*  If  all  these  public 
collections  could  be  examined  and  compared,  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt, 
but  much  valuable  matter  might  be  evolved,  to  place  her  history  in  a  truer 
light  than  has  yet  been  obtained.  Those  documents  prove,  likewise,  that 
her  fame  was  by  no  means  confined  to  Ireland. *95  Indeed,  it  may  be  said, 
hardly  any  Saint  in  the  universal  Church  was  more  renowned  during  the 
Middle  Ages,  than  Ireland's  great  Patroness ;  and  the  prodigies  recorded 
concerning  her  sufficiently  manifest  that  special  devotion  entertained  for  her 
memory  by  numberless  clients  and  admirers.  Her  memorials  also  have  been 
succinctly  related  in  various  Breviaries  :  viz.  in  the  old  Roman  one,  published 
at  Venice  in  1522  ;  in  that  printed  at  Genoa,  Italy;  in  a  Breviary  issued  at 
Cornouaille,  in  British  Armorica ;  in  that  produced  at  Mons,  by  the  Canons 
Regular;  in  that  pubHshed  at  Paris,  a.d.  1622,  and  intended  for  Kildare 
diocese ;  as  also  in  others  published  at  Wurtzburgh,  at  Triers,  and  at  other 
places  in  Germany. ^9*5  Besides  these  the  Breviary  of  Kilmoon  Church,  in 
Ireland,  contained  an  Office  for  St.  Brigid.^97  it  appears  to  have  consisted  of 
Nine  Lessons,  with  Responses,  Antiphons  and  musical  Notation,  but  it  is 
very  much  mutilated  and  defaced. 


apud  Claudium  :  Doresmieulx.  See  "  Bi- 
bliotheca  Belgica  Manuscripta,"  p.  266. 
Legenda  in  Festo  S.  Brigittae  MS.  Arundel 
198,  f.  19  b.  This  is  a  short  lection  and  of 
no  great  value.  Vita  S.  Brigidse  MS. 
Lambeth.  94,  18,  f,  155.  Vita  S.  Brigidse 
MS.  Bodl.  Laud.  Misc.  108  (i486)  ff.  93  b. 
94  b.  veil.  fol.  xiv.  cent.  This  is  written 
in  old  English.  Vita  S.  Brigid^  MS.  Harl. 
2800,  28,  ff.  74  b.  83  b.  Vita  S.  Brigidse. 
MS.  Bodl.  Tanner.  15  f.  86.  Vita  S. 
Brigidse  Virginis.  MS.  Cott.  Nero.  E.  i. 
29,  ff.  134  b.  140.  Life  of  Brigid.  MS. 
Phillips,  10294,  8vo  paper,  xix.  cent.  Copy 
of  a  MS.  belonging  to  the  Duke  of  Devon- 
shire. Vita  S.  Brigidae.  MS.  Eccl.  Lincoln, 
folio.  See  Haenel  "  Catalogus  Librorum 
Manuscriptorum,"  p.  799.  Vita  S.  Brigidse, 
auctore  Hugbaldo  monacho  Elnonensi  MS. 
Caenob.  Elnonensis,  251.  Vita  S.  Brigidse. 
MS.  Clarendon,  65,  f.  4.  See  Sir  Thomas 
Duffus  Hardy's  "  Descriptive  Catalogue  of 
Materials  relating  to  the  History  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  parti.,  pp.  in 
to  1 14. 

'9^  Among  the  Clarendon  Manuscripts, 
formerly  the  property  of  Sir  James  Ware, 
are  Excerpts  from  **  Vita  S.  Brigidse,"  and 
a"VitaS.  Brigidffi." 

*9^  In  the  various  European  Libraries  we 
have  been  enabled  to  trace  the  following 
copies  :— Vita  S.  Brigidae  MS.  Regensburg. 
Vita  S.  Brigittse  fragmentum.  We  find 
appended,  «'  Hujus  vitse  auctor  est,  ni  fallor, 
Hugbaldus  Elnonensis,  Monachus.  MS. 
Bibl.  du  Roi.  2999,  3.  olim  Le  Tellier  veil. 
XI.  cent.  Vita  S.  Brigidse  Virginis.  MS. 
Bibl.  du  Roi.  3788,  42.  olim  Colbert,  veil, 
xu.  cent.    Yita  S.  Brigidse,  Virginis.     MS. 


Bibl.  du  Roi.  3800.  a.  7.  olim  de  Bethune. 
veil.  xiii.  cent.  Vita  Sanctse  Brigidse,  MS. 
Bibl.  du  Roi.  5269,  21,  olim  Faurian. 
veil,  xiv,  cent.  Vita  S.  Brigidse  Virginis. 
MS.  Bibl.  du  Roi.  5278,  23.  olim  Colbert, 
veil.  xiii.  &  xiv.  cent.  Vita  S.  Brigidse, 
Virginis.  MS.  Bibl.  du  Roi.  5292,  48. 
olim  Colbert,  veil.  xiii.  cent.  Vita  S. 
Brigidae,  Virginis.  MS.  Bibl.  du  Roi.  5318, 
60.  olim  Bigot,  veil.  xiii.  cent.  Vita  S. 
Brigidse,  Virginis.  MS.  Bibl.  du  Roi.  5352, 
I.  olim  Colbert,  veil.  xiv.  cent.  Vita 
Brigidse,  MS.  Petavii  in  Vaticana,  507. 
Vita  S.  Brigidae,  MS.  Bibl.  Monast.  S. 
Audoeni  Rothomag,  104.  Vita  Brigidse 
MS.  Monast.  de  Becco,  128.  Vita  S. 
Brigidse.  MS.  Vatican,  4872.  MS.  Vati- 
can, 6074.  MS.  Vatican,  6075.  Vita  S. 
Brigittae.  MS.  Vallicellan.  ap.  Rom.  H.  12, 
f.  195.  MS.  Vallicellan.  ap.  Rom.  H.  25, 
f.  43.  MS.  Vallicellan.  ap.  Rom.  H.  28,  f. 
105.  Vita  S.  Brigittae.  MS.  Palatin,  863. 
Vita  S.  Brigidae.  MS.  Laureatianae  Medi- 
ceas  in  bibl.  Florentiae  iv.  323.  Cod.  xx. 
Vita  S.  Brigidae.  MS.  Monast.  S.  Gisleni 
in  Cella.  See  Sir  Thomas  Duffus  Hardy's 
"Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Materials  relating 
to  the  History  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
vol.  i.,  part,  i.,  pp.  114  to  116. 

^94  Vol.  xi.,  fol.  I. 

»95  Among  the  Bruxelles  MSS.,  in  the 
Burgundian  Library,  there  is  a  tract  "  S. 
Brigidse  Vita,"  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  24. 

'9"  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Vita  S.  Brigidae.  Appendix  Tertia,  cap.  i., 
pp.  609,  610. 

'97  See  Trinity  College  MS.,  classed  B,  I, 
5,  at  fol.  114  b, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


19 


The  less  remote  genealogies  of  Ireland's  kings,  chiefs,  and  saints  are 
found  to  harmonize  in  a  remarkable  manner  with  each  other.  Nor  can  we 
regard  more  ancient  pedigrees  and  traditions  as  mere  fabrications. '^s  Ac- 
cording to  Cogitosus  and  Animosus,  St.  Brigid  was  descended  from 
Feidlimidh  Rechtmar  or  the  Law-giver, ^99  through  the  line  of  Ethach,2°<»  qj. 
Eochaidh^°^Finn  Fothart,  his  son,  who  was  brother  to  the  celebrated 
Conn  of  the  Hundred  Battles,  King  of  Ireland.=°^  The  family  to  which  our 
saint  belonged  was  formerly  very  celebrated,  and  a  powerful  one,  belonging 
to  the  Province  of  Leinster.  In  Irish  song  and  story,  bards  and  senachies 
had  proclaimed  their  renown.  The  genealogists  of  Ireland  have  been  careful 
to  record  St.  Brigid's  descent, ^°3  which  in  the  direct  line  from  her  paternal 
progenitor,  Eochaidh  Finn  Fothart,  was  illustrated  by  holy  persons,  as  well 
as  by  heroes. ''°4  The  various  Irish  pedigrees  and  kalendars  enumerate  not 
less  than  fourteen — Colgan''°5  only  enters  thirteen — saints, ^°'^  who  had  been 
descended  from  Eochaidh  Finn.  Two  of  these  named  in  the  list  are  sup- 
posed, however,  to  have  been  of  a  different  family.  St.  Gall,  Patron  of 
Switzerland, ^°7  and  his  brother  Deicolus,  Abbot  of  Lure^°^  have  been  con- 
jecturally  added  to  the  foregoing  number.  The  following  is  the  order  of  pa- 
ternal descent,  traced  for  St.  Brigid.  To  Eochaidh  Finn  was  born  a  son, 
named  Aongus  Meann.  He  had  a  son  Cormac,  whose  son  Cairpre  Niadh 
was  father  to  Art  Corb,  whose  son  was  Conleach  or  Conla.  To  the  latter 
was  born  a  son.  Den,  the  father  of  Bresal,  who  was  the  father  of  Demri.*°9 


^98  See  Rev.  Dr.  Todd's  "St.  Patrick, 
Apostle  of  Ireland."  Appendix  to  Intro- 
duction, A,  p.  247. 

'99  King  of  Ireland,  from  A.D.  164  to  174, 
according  to  O'Flalierty's  chronology.  See 
"Ogygi^j"  P3-'*s-  iii-j  cap.  Ivii.,  pp.  306  to 
308.  In  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  however,  his  reign  is  placed 
much  earlier,  viz.,  from  A.D.  no  to  1 19. 
See  vol.  i.,  pp.  100  to  103.  Having  enacted 
a  law  of  retaliation  for  the  repression  of 
various  crimes,  this  king  died  a  natural 
death,  after  a  reign  of  nine  years.  Cathaeir 
Mor,  or  the  Great,  succeeded,  according  to 
Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters."  After  a  reign  of  three  years,  we 
are  informed,  that  he  was  slain  in  the  battle 
of  Magh-h-Agha,  by  Conn  of  the  Hundred 
Fights  and  by  the  Fian  or  militia  of  Luaighne, 
A.D.  122.     See  ibid.,  pp.  102,  103. 

'"^  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  Secunda 
Vita  S.  Brigidas,  cap.  i.,  p.  519. 

=°'  See  ibid.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigida, 
cap.  i.,  p.  546. 

^°^  From  A.D.  177  to  211,  according  to 
O'Flaherty's  "Ogygia,"  pars,  iii.,  cap.  Ix., 
Ixi.,  pp.  313  to  318.  Dr.  O'Donovan's 
"Annals  of  the  Four  Masters"  has  it  from 
A.D.  123  to  157.  See  vol.  i.,  pp.  103  to 
105. 

^°3  Among  the  St.  Gall  manuscripts  like- 
wise there  is  a  "  Genealogia  S.  Brigidse." 

='°'*  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
ii.,  p.  613. 

^°5  He  remarks,  that  the  Natales  for  most 
of  those  saints  are  found  entered  in  the 
Martyrologies    of    Tallagh,    of    Marianus 


0'Gorman,of  Cathald  Maguire,  and  of  Done- 
gal. 

=°^  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  saints  and 
their  places,  with  presumed  days  for  their  fes- 
tivities. I.  St.  Aidan,  venerated  on  the  27th 
of  August,  or  on  the  4th  of  September,  at  a 
place  called  Cluain  Tarbh,  or  Clontarf.  2. 
St.Berchan,also  called  MobiClairenachjVene- 
rated  on  the  12th  of  October,  at  Glasnevin. 
3.  St.  Barrindus,  of  Achadh-Cailltin,  at 
the  8th  of  November.  4.  St.  Colman,  of 
Airthir  Femhin.  5.  St.  Declan,  of  Ard- 
more,  venerated  on  the  24th  of  July.  But, 
from  the  life  of  this  latter  saint,  which 
Colgan  intended  to  publish  at  that  day,  it 
would  seem,  Declan  and  his  brother  Colman 
are  not  derived  from  the  race  of  Eochad,  as 
the  author  of  the  "  Sanctilogic  Genealogy" 
writes,  but  rather  from  the  posterity  of  his 
brother  Fiach  Sugdhe.  6.  St.  Diman, 
bishop,  who  was  venerated  on  the  9th,  or 
on  the  22nd,  of  March.  7.  St.  Enan,  of 
Drum  Rath,  venerated  on  the  19th  of  August. 
8.  St.  Fechin,  of  Fore,  venerated  on  the 
20th  of  January.  9.  St.  Finbarr  or  Fionub- 
har.  Abbot  of  Inis  Doimhle,  venerated  on 
the  4th  of  July.  10.  St.  Fintan,  Abbot  of 
Clonenagh,  venerated  on  the  17th  of  Feb- 
ruary. II.  St.  Finan,  venerated  on  the 
13th  of  February,  or  on  the  4th  of  October. 
12.  St.  Mochuan.  13.  St.  Samata,  who 
was  venerated  on  the  1 6th  of  April.  See 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Appendix 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  iii.,  p. 
613. 

^°7  See  his  Life  at  the  i6th  of  October. 

=°8  See  his  Life  at  the  i8th  of  January. 

'«^  This  accords  with  the  Irish  Life  of  St. 


20 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


The  son  of  this  latter  was  6ubtach,  the  father  of  St.  Brigid.=^°  Thus  was 
the  illustrious  virgin  eleventlTm  Imeal  descent,  from  the  renowned  Feidlimidh 
Rechtmar,*"  or  the  Lawgiver,^^^  King  of  Ireland,  in  the  second  century  of 
our  Christian  era.^^3  It  would  seem,  that  on  our  saint's  maternal  side,  Brigid 
was  descended  from  the  O'Connor  family.'^4  The  mother  of  this  holy  virgin 
is  incorrectly  called  Brocea,  Brocaj^^'s  or  Brocessa,  by  Cogitosus,  and  by 
some  foreign  writers.  But,  by  most  of  our  native  authorities,  she  is  more 
correctly  named  Brotseach,^^^  or  Brocseach.=^7  The  sister  of  this  Brotseach 
appears  to  have  been  Fanchea,  the  mother  of  three  holy  sons.^'^  The 
Calendar  of  the  O'Clerys  states,  that  Broiccseach,=^9  daughter  of  Dallbronach, 
son  to  Aedh  Meamhair,=^2o  ^^^g  ^^  mother  of  this  most  renowned  virgin. 
Such  a  respectable  pedigree  is  alone  sufficient  to  disprove  an  assertion  ot 
certain  writers  recording  our  saint's  acts,  that  her  mother  was  of  servile  con- 
dition. Both  her  parents  are  called  Christians,  and  they  are  reputed  to 
have  been  of  noble  birth."^  It  seems  probable  enough,  they  may  have  been 
among  St.  Patrick's  converts,  when  he  spent  some  time  in  Loutli,  before  re- 
turning to  the  North  from  his  southern  missionary  travels.     Besides  the 


Brigid,  in  the  "Book  of  Lismore"  and  in 
the  **  Leabhar  Breac"  according  to  Professor 
O'Looney's  copy,  pp.  3,  4. 

*'°  Such  is  her  line  as  traced  in  the 
**  Sanctilogic  Genealogies,"  chapter  xv. 
Cormac  Mac  Cuillenan,  in  his  treatise  on 
"  Genealogies  of  the  Saints,"  contained  in 
the  "Psalter  of  Cashel,"  assigns  the  same 
descent  on  the  father's  side,  for  St.  Brigid. 
In  this  particular,  Dr.  Geoffry  Keating 
agrees  with  the  foregoing  authorities.  See 
Dermod  O'Connor's  Keating's  "General 
History  of  Ireland,"  part  ii.,  p.  389. 

2"  In  the  Fourth  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  it  is 
said,  he  was  thus  named,  because  he  effected 
great  law  reforms  in  his  kingdom  of  Ireland, 
while  * '  Reacht"  of  the  Scotic  dialect  in 
Latin  is  identical  with  "lex."  In  English 
it  means  "law." 

=*^  Colgan  agrees,  that  the  cognomen 
Reachtmar  is  Latinized  by  the  words  "  legi- 
fer"  or  "legislator."  Such  an  epithet  had 
been  bestowed  on  him  because  of  his  being 
a  great  lover  of  justice.  He  also  says  that 
the  origin  of  this  word  '^'^  Reachtmar'''*  \?,  in 
accordance  with  our  historic  traditions,  and 
the  common  use  of  the  epithet.  See  "  Trias 
Thaumaturga."  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse, 
lib.  i.,  cap.  i.,  p.  546,  and  n.  3,  p.  563. 

"'3  The  O'Clery's  Calendar  agrees,  like- 
wise, that  St.  Brigid  descended  from  the 
race  of  Eochaidh  Finnfuathairt,  son  to 
Feidhlimidh  Reachtmhar,  son  to  Tuathal 
Teachtmhar,  Monarch  of  Erinn. 

»'*  According  to  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life,  St.  Brigid's  mother  was  Broig- 
seach,  the  daughter  of  Dallbronach,  of  the 
Dail  Conchobhar  in  South  Bregia. 

="S  In  the  Third  Office  of  St.  Brigid,  pub- 
lished by  Colgan,  "patre  Diptoco,  et  matre 
Broca,"  are  held  to  have  been  her  parents. 
Her  offices  and  other  accounts  make  our 
saint  a  native  of  Leinster.  This  was  an- 
ciently a  Province  of  Ireland,  bounded 
eastwards  by  the  Irish  Sea,  having  Munster 


on  its  south  and  west,  with  Meath  towards 
the  north.  Like  other  great  districts  of  Ire- 
land, it  had  its  own  kings  ;  subject,  however, 
to  the  chief  monarch  of  the  island.  Naas 
was  the  capital  city  during  St.  Brigid's  period. 
Its  metropolis  for  many  ages  past  has  been 
Dublin,  which  formerly  had  many  suffragan 
sees  within  its  present  archiepiscopal  limits. 
For  some  time  past,  it  has  only  the  suffragan 
sees  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin,  Ossory  and 
Ferns. 

="'*  Colgan  remarks,  that  she  should  be 
called  Brotseach,  as  the  generality  of  au- 
thors—especially in  old  Latin  codices — style 
her.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "  Appendix 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidas,  cap.  ii.,  p.  613. 

^'7  Irish  writers  more  generally,  as  also 
more  correctly,  write  her  name  Brocseach, 
and  hence  Colgan  prefers  to  adopt  their  or- 
thography. See  ibid.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Bri- 
gidae,  n,  8,  p.  563, 

='^  St.  yEngus  the  Culdee,  in  his  tract, 
"Mothers  of  the  Irish  Saints,"  relates,  that 
Fanchea,  daughter  of  Dalbronach,  was  mo- 
ther of  Saints  Conall,  Eugene,  and  Carbre, 
three  sons  of  Neman. 

='9  In  the  table  to  this  martyrology,  after 
the  holy  virgin's  name,  we  find  the  following 
comment  introduced,  within  brackets  :— 
"[Daughter  of  Broicsech  ;  her  mother  was 
Brocsecha.]"  See  "  Martyrology  of  Done- 
gal. "    Edited  by  Drs.  Todd  and  Reeves. 

"°  He  is  said  to  have  been  of  Dalconchab- 
huir,  in  the  southern  part  of  Bregia,  accord- 
ing to  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.  St,  Ultan 
also  belonged  to  that  family.  A  scholiast, 
in  his  preface  to  a  hymn,  said  to  have  been 
composed  by  St.  Ultan,  writes,  that  he  com- 
posed this  hymn  in  .praise  of  St.  Brigid  : 
and  that  he  was  of  the  Daleconchabuir,  to 
which  belonged  St,  Brigid's  (mother,  Brot- 
seach, daughter  of  Dallbronac, 

="  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Cogitosus'  or  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidaj,  cap, 
i.,  p.  519. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  21 


testimony  of  Cogitosus,  referable  to  the  Christian  parentage  of  St.  Brigid,  in 
that  metrical  prologue  to  her  sixth  life,^"  Dubtach  is  represented  as  a  noble, 
pious  man,  and  still  more  noble,  through  his  own  proper  spouse^=^3  and  their 
holy  offspring."*  Nor  does  there  appear  to  be  any  qualification  to  this 
eulogy,  in  regard  to  any  particular  portion  of  his  life.  Whether  the  birth  of 
their  illustrious  daughter  took  place  before  or  after  their  conversion  to  Chris- 
tianity is  not  established  on  any  reliable  authority. 

Our  most  judicious  historians,  Protestant  and  Catholic,'='S  pass  over  in 
silence,  or  with  reproof,  those  very  incredible  legends,  which  contradict  the 
foregoing  accounts. ^^*^  Indeed,  an  exact  critical  analysis  will  only  serve  to 
render  the  least  remarkable  circumstances,  attending  St.  Brigid's  birth,  more 
probable  ;  while  the  romantic  narratives  can  be  traced  to  no  better  sources 
than  popular  traditions,  so  liable  to  be  obscured  by  fables.  No  doubt,  cer- 
tain old  Acts  of  the  saint — we  cannot  be  sure,  however,  these  are  the  most 
ancient  and  authentic  — contain  the  entry  of  such  preposterous  statements. 
Later  writers,  during  the  middle  ages,''^7  adopted  those  vain  fantasies,  without 
sufficient  examination,  and  these  again  have  been  repeated  by  more  modern 
writers^^^  unreflectingly  or  in  complete  ignorance  of  the  historic  value,  applic- 
able to  their  sources  for  information.  The  genealogy  of  St.  Brigid's  mother — 
apparently  drawn  from  remote  pedigrees — shows  that  she  was  not  of  servile 
condition,229  but  through  family  origin,  in  every  respect,  fitted  to  be  the 
lawful  and  respected  spouse  of  the  noble  Dubtach. 

The  best  refutation  of  certain  strange  accounts,  relating  to  St.  Brigid's 
birth,  will  probably  be  found  in  a  brief  statement  of  the  legend.^30  xhe 
paternal  ancestor  of  our  illustrious  virgin,  and  who  is  named  Eochaidh  Finn, 
went  among  the  Lagenians,  whose  king  bestowed  many  tracts  of  land  on  him, 
at  different  places.     In  that  province  the  prince's  posterity  dwelt  at  a  time 


^^'^^^  "Dubtachus  ejus  erat  genitor  cogno-  being  everywhere  else  spoken  of  as  the 

mine  dietus  ;  wife  of  Dubtach." 

Clarus  homo  meritis,  clarus  et  a  proa-  '^'^^  That  the   illustrious    St.  Brigid    was 

vis  ;  born  in  Scotia  of  noble  and  Christian  parents 

Nobilis  atque  humilis,  mitis  pietate  is  stated  in  the  ' '  Chronica  Generalis  Mun- 

repletus  ;  di,"  by  Petrus  de  Natalibus,  lib.  iii.,  cap. 

Nobilior  propria  conjuge,  prole  pia."  69,  as,  also,  in  St.  Brigid's  Second,  Third, 

— Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidae.     Prologus.     Col-  and  Fourth  Offices,  published  by  Colgan. 

gan's  "TriasThaumaturga,"p.  582.  She  is  said  to  have  been   "de  bona  pro- 

=^^3  She  is  understood  to  have  been  Bro-  sapia"  in  the  First  Office, 

cessa    or    Brotseach,    the    mother    of   St.  ^^^  See  the  succinct  account  of  John  Cap- 

Brigid.  grave  in  his  **  Nova  Legenda  Angliae,"  fol. 

^"^^  In  those  well-known  acts  of  St.  Brigid,  xlix. 

written  by  Cogitosus,  she  is  said  to  have  "^  Such  as  Harris  in  his  edition  of  Sir 

been  predestined  for  accomplishment  of  the  James  Ware's  works,  vol.  ii,,  "  "Writers  of 

Almighty's  decrees,  by  special  graces  re-  Ireland,"  book  i.,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  ii,  12. 

ceived  from  heaven.  ^^9  That  she  was  a  captive  is  intimated  in 

"S  Such  as  Ussher,  Ware,  Lanigan,  &c.  Colgan's  first  published  metrical  acts  of  the 

The  latter  writer  observes,  that  "  no  atten-  saint,  attributed  to  St.  Brogan  Cloen.     See 

tion  is  due  to  what  v/e  find  in  two  or  three  *'  Trias  Thaumaturga."     Hymnus,  seu  Vita 

of  the  so-called  Lives  of  St.  Brigid  concern-  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  strophe  i.,  p.  515. 

ing  her  mother  having  been  a  concubine,  ^3o  On  this  subject.  Dr.  Lanigan  remarks  : 

whom,  when  pregnant,  the  wife  of  Dubtach  * '  These  stories  are  given  in  the  third  and 

obliged  him  to  dismiss,  and  of  her  having  fourth  lives,   which  in  very  great  part  are 

been  purchased  by  a  pagan  poet  or  a  magus,  mere    transcripts  of  each  other,   agreeing, 

and  how,  in  consequence  of  his  taking  her  word  for  word,  in  many  passages.      The 

to  Ulster,   she  was  then  delivered  of  the  former  bears  every  appearance  of  being  an 

saint.     This  romance-like  narrative  cannot  abridgment  of  the  latter.    Be  this  as  it  may, 

agree  with  the  circumstance,  that  the  parents  they  form  but  one  authority.     And  as  to 

of  the  saint  were  Christians.     I  mean  such  the  life  called  the  fifth,  whatever  it  has  on 

strict  Christians  as  were  then  in  Ireland,  nor  these  subjects  was  evidently  taken  from  one 

with  the  rank  of  her  mother's  family  and  her  or  other  of  them,    Amidst  other  nonsense 


22 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.         [February  i. 


when  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life  wrote. =3^  From  his  race,  as  we 
are  told,  a  celebrated  and  powerful  chieftain,  named  Dubtach,  was  derived, 
who  bought  a  female  servant,  named  Broschach.  She  was  very  beautiful  and 
distinguished  by  her  great  propriety  of  manner.  =^32  Immediately  after  follows 
a  romantic  and  an  incredible  account,  seemingly  irreconcilable  with  this 
latter  statement.  On  learning  that  Broschach  had  conceived,  the  proper 
wife  of  Dubtach,  it  is  said,  became  very  much  grieved,  and  advised  her 
husband  to  sell  his  slave.^33  Fear  was  expressed,  at  the  same  time,  that 
Broschach's  children  should  domineer  over  the  family  of  his  wife.  But,  the 
chieftain  Dubtach  would  not  hearken  to  the  counsels  of  his  consort,  on  ac- 
count of  a  great  love  he  entertained  for  Broschach.=34 

About  this  time,  it  is  said,  that  two  holy  bishops^35  came  from  Britain,  =36 
and  entered  the  house  of  Dubtach.  One  of  these  was  called  Mel  or  Maol, 
and  the  other  Melchu  or  Maolchu.^37  These  were  disciples,  we  are  told,  of 
St.  Patrick,  the  archbishop,  who  then  preached  God's  word  in  Ireland.^38 
Maol  said  to  Dubtach's  wife,  "  Why  are  you  sorrowful  ?  The  offspring  of 
thy  servant,  shall  be  exalted  above  you  and  your  progeny  :239  however,  love 
that  servant  equally  with  your  own  sons,  because  her  infant  shall  procure  blessings 
for  your  children."  But,  the  jealously  of  Dubtach's  wife  was  not  appeased, 
and  her  brothers,  who  were  powerful  and  brave  men,  earnestly  urged  Dubtach 
to  sell  his  servant,  in  a  distant  part  of  the  country.  By  a  special  inspiration, 
a  poet,  belonging  to  the  Hy-Niall  family, ^40  came  from  the  northern  part  of 


contained  in  these  tracts  a  magus  is  intro- 
duced foretelling  the  future  sanctity  of  the 
child,  while  she  was  still  in  her  mother's 
womb." — "  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire- 
land," vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  n.  22,  pp. 
381,  382. 

'3'  Colgan  remarks,  that  this  account  fur- 
nishes no  slight  indication  showing  how  the 
author  of  this  life  lived  at  a  very  early  period, 
and  that  he  flourished  at  least  previously  to 
the  tenth  century,  as  for  many  ages  back, 
the  family  of  St.  Brigid  did  not  live,  in  those 
places  to  which  allusion  had  been  made. 
See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Quarta  Vita 
S.  Brigidae,  n.  7,  p.  563.  It  may  be  asked, 
however,  on  what  data  Colgan  grounds  his 
assertion,  even  if  the  author  specified  those 
exact  places  ?    This  he  has  not  done. 

'3='  In  the  Third  Life,  this  latter  account 
of  Brocseach's  good  morals — as  contained  in 
the  Fourth  Life — is  coincidently  given.  See 
"Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  i.,  p.  527. 
Both  statements  appear  to  have  been  im- 
plicitly followed,  in  the  Fifth  or  acephalous 
Life  of  our  saint,  which  Colgan  supplies  in 
his  own  words,  and  in  elegant  Latin,  appa- 
rently written  to  imitate  Laurence  of  Dur- 
ham's style.  This  narrative  is  paraphrased 
from  more  succinct  accounts  of  previous 
writers.  To  supply  what  is  wanting  in  his 
author,  Colgan  draws  somewhat  on  his  own 
imagination — a  rather  exceptional' case  with 
him. 

=33  In  the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  con- 
tained in  the  "  Leabhar  Breac"  and  the 
"Book  of  Lismore,"  the  account  is  some- 
what similar. 

»34See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 


Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidoe,  lib.  i.,  cap.  i.,  p. 
546,  In  closing  this»account  of  Broschach, 
as  she  is  generally  called  throughout  the 
Fourth  Life,  the  author  adds  regarding  her, 
**in  omnibus  enim  moribus,  illafoemma  erat 
perfecta." 

=^3S  They  were  disciples  and  nephews  of 
St.  Patrick,  the  children  of  his  sister  Darerca. 
Colgan  gives  their  acts,  at  the  6th  of  Feb- 
ruary, the  day  of  their  feast,  in  his  "Acta 
Sanctorum  Hibernise,"  vi.  Februarii,  pp. 
259  to  264. 

=^3*  In  Professor  O'Looney's  "Life  of  St. 
Brigid,"  Irish  and  English  MS.,  while  call- 
ing them  bishops  of  the  Britons,  they  are 
said  to  have  come  from  the  Alps  to  foretel 
of  her,  pp.  5,  6. 

=37  In  the  "Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidce"  they 
are  called  Mel  and  Melchu,  as  also  in  many 
other  works.  In  the  "  Vita  Quarta  S.  Bri- 
gidfe"  they  are  more  correctly  named,  Maol 
and  Maolchu,  or  by  change  of  the  dipthong, 
Mael  and  Maelchu  ;  for  ao,  ae,  and  te  were 
indifferently  used  by  the  Irish  and  other 
ancient  people. 

=38  Such  is'the  account  given,  in  the  Fourth 
Life  of  St.  Brigid. 

=39  In  an  Irish  life  (chap,  ii.)  this  wife  of 
the  chieftain  is  called  Brectan.  She  is  said 
to  have  borne  seven  sons  to  Dubtach,  the 
seventh  or  last  having  been  born  after  the 
birth  of  St.  Brigid.  See  Colgan's  "Trias 
Thaumaturga."  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae, 
n.  10,  p.  564. 

240  «<  Id  est,  de  terra  nepotum  Neill,  seu 
Media."  The  poet,  in  question,  or  the 
magus,  as  he  is  called  in  the  St.  Autbert 
MS.,  came  from  the  territory  of  Himaccuais 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


23 


Ireland,^*^  and  bought  this  female  slave  from  Dubtach,  who  consented  to  sell 
her,  because  he  feared  the  anger  of  his  wife,^'^^  and  of  her  brothers,  belonging 
to  a  noble  family. ''*3  Yet,  he  would  not  consent  to  sell  the  child,  which  she 
then  bore,  because  wonderful  things  had  been  predicted  regarding  the  unborn 
infant.='44  in  his  account  of  these  transactions,  Laurence  of  Durham  remarks, 
that  the  English,  Irish,  and  Scotch  were  accustomed  to  deal  in  slaves,  more 
than  in  any  other  kind  of  merchandise  ;  and  that  they  even  considered  it  an 
honourable  kind  of  traffic,  although  so  much  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity.    He  says,  that  the  mother  had  been  known  to  sell  her  daughter,  the 


in  Meath,  and  from  the  particular  spot  called 
Tochar-maine,  as  stated  in  St.  Brigid's  Irish 
Life  (cap .  v. )  Although,  in  the  Fourth  Life, 
it  is  said,  he  was  "  poeta  de  aquilone  Hi- 
berniae,"  there  is  nothing  contradictory  to  be 
found  ;  because  relatively  to  Leinster,  Meath 
lay  to  the  north,  and  because  a  certain 
magus,  or  poet,  belonging  to  the  region  of 
Conall  Marthemne,  in  Ulster,  bought  the 
mother  of  St.  Brigid,  not  immediately  from 
Dubtach,  but  from  the  aforesaid  Meathian 
poet.  This  is  expressly  stated,  in  the  Irish 
Life.  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  n.  4,  p.  542. 

^41  In  Professor  O'Looney's  MS.  the  poet 
is  said  to  have  been  of  the  Ui  Mac  Uais, 
and  to  have  been  from  Tochur  Maine,  pp. 
5,6. 

^^'  Laurence  of  Durham's  fragmentary 
life  starts  with  an  announcement,  that  the 
wife  of  Dubtach,  bitterly  reproaching  her 
husband  with  his  infidelities,  declared  that 
henceforth  he  must  make  up  his  mind,  either 
to  sell  his  female  slave,  or  be  prepared  for  her 
own  separation  from  him.  Her  persistently 
expressed  resolution,  it  is  said,  overcame 
her  husband's  previous  intention.  Dubtach 
then  placed  his  servant  in  the  chariot,  which 
enabled  him  to  journey  after  the  fashion  of 
his  country,  to  reach  a  place  where  he  could 
find  a  market. 

^43  By  the  later  writers  of  our  saint's  acts, 
we  are  told,  that  one  day  the  holy  maiden's 
iather  and  mother  passed  by  the  house  of  a 
certain  magus,  in  a  chariot.  In  St.  Brigid's 
Irish  Life  he  is  called  Maithginn,  from  whom 
Ross-Maithginn  is  denominated.  He  ordered 
the  servants  to  inform  him  who  were  seated 
in  it,  for  by  the  noise  of  this  vehicle,  Maith- 
ginn  supposed  it  conveyed  a  king.  The 
servants  reported  to  their  master,  that  the 
chariot  contained  Dubthac.  The  magus  de- 
sired him  to  be  called.  On  being  hailed,  the 
magician  asked  if  the  woman,  called  ancilla, 
who  sat  behind  him  in  the  chariot,  was  with 
child.  On  receiving  an  answer  in  the  affir- 
mative from  Dubtach,  the  magician  asked 
her  the  name  of  this  unborn  child's  father. 
She  replied,  that  Dubtach  was  its  parent. 
Then  the  magus  addressed  these  words  to 
him,  "Be  thou  a  careful  guardian  of  this 
woman,  for  the  child  she  bears  shall  become 
illustrious."  Dubtach  then  told  the  magus 
that  his  wife,  who  feared  this  child's  birth, 


had  urged  him  to  sell  his  fellow-traveller, 
who  is  represented  as  being  a  slave.  The 
magus  then  prophesised,  that  the  children 
of  Dubtach's  wife  should  serve  the  family  of 
her  servant  for  ever.  The  magician  also 
said  to  the  servant :  "  Be  of  good  cheer,  for 
no  person  shall  be  able  to  injure  you  ;  the 
graces  bestowed  on  your  infant  shall  prove 
your  protection,  for  to  you  shall  be  bom  an 
illustrious  daughter,  who  will  shine  in  this 
world  with  the  brightness  of  the  noon-day 
sun. "  Dubtach  replied,  * '  I  give  thanks  to 
God,  that  hitherto  I  have  had  no  daughter, 
although  having  sons. "  After  these  words 
of  the  magus,  Dubtach  regarded  his  female 
servant  with  greater  affection  ;  although  his 
wife,  with  her  brothers,  urged  her  husband 
to  sell  his  slave,  in  a  far  distant  country. 
See  •'  Trias  Thaumaturga. "  Vita  Tertia  S. 
Brigidae,  cap,  ii.,  p.  527.  Vita  Quarta  S. 
Brigidffi,  lib.  i.,  cap.  ii.,  p.  546,  ibid.  In 
the  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint,  a  similar  story  is 
told  substantially,  but  in  a  more  improved 
Latin  phraseology  and  style  ;  a  greater  im- 
aginative liberty  having  been  taken  appa- 
rently with  special  circumstances  given  in 
previous  accounts.  See  Vita  Quinta  S.  Bri- 
gidce,  cap,  iii.,  p.  567,  ibid.  In  the  metrical 
acts  of  St.  Brigid,  the  matter  is  thus  briefly 
recorded  : — 

"  Quadam  namque  die  genetrix  dum  forte 
sedebat. 
In  curru  praegnans,  nee  tunc  enixa  puel- 

1am, 
Dumque  frementis  equi  spumantia  coUa 

tenebat, 
Pulverulenta  quidem  vestigia  longa  sona- 

bat. 
Audierat  sonitum  vates  stridere  rotarum 
Dixerat ;  ecce  venit.     Rex  est,  qui  prse- 

sidct  axi. 
Sed  commitissa  tamen  carpentum  sola  re- 
gebat. 
— Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  i.,  pp.  582, 
583,  ibid. 

^44  In  the  Office  of  St.  Brigid,  printed  at 
Paris  in  1622,  and  in  her  other  printed 
or  manuscripts  offices,  various  portents  re- 
ferring to  her  conception  and  early  child- 
hood are  noticed,  in  the  antiphons,  hymns 
and  responses.  Also,  many  virtues  and 
miracles,  which  afterwards  distinguished 
her,  are  related, 


24 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.         [February  i. 


son  his  father,  and  a  husband  his  wife,  forgetting  every  sentiment  of  nature 
and  grace. ^'♦s  After  the  Normans  took  possession  of  England,  slavery  of 
this  sort  was  happily  abolished  ;  and  the  English  owed  this  happy  change, 
rather  to  invaders,  than  to  their  own  countrymen.  This  writer  adds,  that 
the  Irish  and  Scots,  having  lords  of  their  own  nation,  never  wholly  abandoned 
serfdom,  nor  yet  allowed  it  to  exist,  as  formerly  they  did.^^^  However  this 
may  be,  we  are  obliged  to  resume  the  incredible  and  contradictory  romance, 
which  consigns  St.  Brigid's  mother  to  a  state  of  bondage.  With  his  newly- 
purchased  slave,  the  poet  afterwards  returned  to  his  own  country.^47  A 
certain  holy  man  paid  a  visit,  on  that  night  of  arrival  at  his  house.  This 
pious  guest  prayed  to  God,  the  whole  night.  Frequently  during  that  time, 
he  saw  a  globe  of  fire,  resting  over  the  spot,  where  the  bond-woman  and 
mother  of  St.  Brigid  slept.  Respecting  such  circumstances,  the  poet  host 
was  apprized  in  the  morning.^^s  Several  incidents,  connected  with  St.  Brigid's 
birth,  as  related  by  some  of  her  biographers,  are  puerile  in  the  extreme,  and 
unworthy  the  slightest  degree  of  credit.^49     It  is  said,  a  certain  infant,  whose 


=^s  Colgan  remarks,  that  except  in  the 
writings  of  this  author,  he  could  never  dis- 
cover elsewhere,  authority  for  the  statement 
of  a  custom  prevailing  in  former  times  among 
the  Irish,  whereby  a  brother  would  sell  his 
brother,  a  daughter  her  mother,  a  father  his 
son,  or  any  other  relative  his  kinsman.  If 
the  sale  of  slaves  and  captives  prevailed  in 
pagan  times,  the  mild  spirit  of  Christianity 
and  of  religious  feeling  haslongago  abolished 
all  vile  customs  of  the  slave  mart,  in  our 
island.  We  read,  however,  that  the  English 
and  Britons,  even  long  after  their  reception 
of  the  Christian  religion,  allowed  this  abomin- 
able trade  in  human  creatures  to  continue. 
We  learn,  also,  that  to  this  infamous  traffic 
in  men  and  women,  could  be  traced,  in  great 
part,  their  loss  of  liberty  and  subjection  to 
a  foreign  yoke.  These  were  regarded  as 
just  punishments  and  visitations  of  God, 
for  permitting  such  abuses.  See  Colgan's 
"Trias  Thaumaturga."  Quinta  Vita  S. 
Brigidse,  cap.  i,,  ii,,  p.  567  and  n.  5,  p. 
639,  ibid. 

***  Giraldus  Cambrensis  writes  as  follows 
on  this  subject,  in  reference  to  Ireland,  that 
soon  after  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion,  a 
council  was  convened  at  Armagh,  in  which 
it  was  decreed,  that  the  English,  then  held 
as  bondsmen,  in  various  parts  of  Hibernia, 
should  be  set  at  liberty.  The  clergy  and 
laity  were  unanimously  agreed  on  this  sub- 
ject. Previously  to  that  period,  the  Saxons 
were  accustomed  to  jell  their  ovra.  children 
and  relations  as  slaves  to  the  Irish,  even 
although  not  pressed  to  it  by  any  necessity. 
Merchants  and  pirates  were  alike  engaged 
in  this  nefarious  commerce.  The  Irish, 
becoming  purchasers  of  those  slaves,  were 
justly  deemed  as  partners  in  such  traffic,  and 
therefore  was  it  thought  they  had  incurred 
Divine  displeasure,  which  had  been  mani- 
fested by  permitting  their  subjection,  in  turn, 
to  the  Anglo-Norman  invaders.  See  "  Ex- 
pugnatio  Hibemica,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  xviii.,  p. 


258.  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  Opera,  vol.  v., 
Dimock's  edition. 

**7  According  to  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life  in  MS.  a  Dmid  from  the  territory 
of  Connaill  repurchased  the  bondwoman 
from  the  poet  ;  and  brought  her  to  his  own 
part  of  the  country,  pp.  5,  6. 

--♦^  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigiaiaj,  cap.  iii.,  p.  527. 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii., 
iv.,  p.  546.  In  the  Fifth  Life,  the  foregoing 
accounts  are  greatly  extended,  by  the  intro- 
duction of  imaginary  discourses  and  circum- 
stances. See  Quinta  Vita  vS.  Brigidoe,  cap. 
iii.,  iv.,  pp.  567,  568,  ibid. 

=^49  After  the  account  already  given,  theThird 
Life  inserts  a  ridiculous  narrative,  relative  to 
an  occurrence  at  the  infant's  birth.  This 
same  narrative  is  given  in  the  Fourth  Life, 
where  it  is  added,  that  the  infant  St.  Brigid 
was  distinguished  by  extraordinary  beauty 
of  features.  "  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,"  lib. 
i.,  cap.  v.,  pp.  546,  547,  ibid.  As  usual, 
Laurence  of  Durham  greatly  enlarges  on  the 
foregoing  accounts.  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidae, 
cap.  v.,  p.  568,  ibid.  We  are  assured,  by  Col- 
gan, that  a  king  alluded  to,  and  then  with  his 
queen  a  guest  with  the  i/iagus,  was  dynast 
of  Conall  Murthemne,  a  region  mentioned, 
in  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.  In  a  part  of 
this  territory,  designated  Fochart,  St.  Brigid 
was  born,  according  to  the  same  authority, 
and  to  Henry  of  Marlborough,  A.D,  468. 
Conchobarius  in  "  Vita  S.  Monennsa,"  and 
other  biographers  are  of  accord.  These  are 
followed  by  Ussher,  "  De  Primordiis  Eccle- 
siarum  Britannicarum, "  pp.  627,  884.  But, 
the  magian  here  mentioned  is  not  identical 
with  the  Meathian,  who  purchased  St. 
Brigid's  mother  in  the  first  instance.  He 
was  the  second  purchaser  and  he  belonged 
to  the  territory  of  the  aforesaid  Conall,  as 
mentioned  in  an  Irish  Life.  The  student 
may  refer  to  "  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidfe,"  n. 
5,  P-  543. 


February  i.]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


25 


birth  had  preceded  St.  Brigid's  by  a  single  day,=so  ^^^^  suddenly  on  that  of 
our  saint's  nativity.^si  By  some  chance,  Brigid,  being  brought  near  the  life- 
less body  of  this  infant,  touched  it.^s"  The  child  was  immediately  restored 
to  life.  When  this  miracle  took  place,  all  who  were  present  declared,  Brigid 
was  that  renowned  saint,  promised  by  the  prophets.  ="53 

After  our  saint's  birth,  the  magus  is  said  to  have  brought  her  mother  with 
him  to  Connaught,  where  he  dwelt ;  and,  it  is  also  stated,  that  the  mother  of 
this  magus  had  been  a  native  of  that  province,  while  his  father  was  born  in 
Munster.='54  One  day,  when  the  mother  of  St.  Brigid  went  some  distance  to 
milk  cows,2S5  she  left  her  infant  sleeping  alone  in  the  house.  Suddenly,  it 
appeared  to  be  in  flames,  and  all  who  saw  ran  to  extinguish  them. =56  Qn 
approaching  the  dwelling,  however,  these  flames  went  out ;  and  on  entering, 
the  people  found  St.  Brigid  sweetly  smiling,  with  infantile  innocence  and 
beauty,  her  cheeks  being  flushed  with  a  roseate  hue.^57  AH  proclaimed 
aloud,  that  the  child  was  replenished  with  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit.^ss 

Before  we  proceed  further,  it  may  be  well  to  mention,  that  St.  Brigid's 
biographers  seem  generally  to  agree  in  naming  Fochard^S9  as  her  birthplace. 
Such  is  the  account  left  us  in  her  Fourth  Life.  There,  as  we  are  told,  the 
village  in  which  she  was  born  bore  the  name,  Fochart  Muirthemne,^^°  being 
in  the  region  called  Conaille  Muirthemhne,  formerly  within  the  Ulster 
province. ^^^  The  tradition,  on  which  such  a  statement  prevails,  is  referable 
to  a  remote  time.^^^    At  present,  Faughart=63  is  a  small  country  village,  in 


=50  This  infant  is  said  to  have  been  a  son 
of  the  King  and  Queen  of  Conaille,  who  were 
then  on  a  visit  with  a-  magus,  the  second 
purchaser,  according  to  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life,  pp.  5  to  8. 

=51  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  states, 
St.  Brigid  was  born  at  the  rising  of  the  sun, 
pp.  7,  8. 

252  In  Professor  O'Looney  Irish  Life,  it  is 
stated,  that  St.  Brigid's  breath  brought  the 
king's  son  to  life,  pp.  7,  8. 

^53  This  account  is  contained  in  the  Fourth 
Life.  We  are  told  by  Colgan,  that  it  is  to 
be  found,  also,  in  the  Irish  Life,  where  it  is 
stated,  the  infant  brought  to  life  was  a  son 
to  the  King  of  Conall,  and  this  child  was 
born  on  that  night,  previous  to  St.  Brigid's 
birth,  according  to  the  legend.  See  "  Trias 
Thaumaturga."  Quarta  VitaS.  Brigidae,  lib. 
i.,  cap.  vi.,  p.  547,  and  n.  12,  p.  564,  ibid. 

^^54  This  is  accordant  with  a  statement  in 
Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 
pp.  7,  8. 

=55  Ibid. 

=56  <<  Ssepe  etiam  rutilis  tectorurn  subdere 
flammis 

Cernebant  fabricam,  parvas  et  cunabula 

Brigidae." — ^Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidoe,  sec. 

ii.,  p.  583.   Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

«57  Ibid.  "  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,"  cap. 
v.,  p.  527.  "Quarta  Vita  S.  BrigidEe," 
lib.  i.,  cap.  viii,,  ix.,  p.  547.  In  the  latter 
life,  we  are  informed  about  the  reason  why 
the  magician  visited  the  province  of  Con- 
naught.  This  he  did  to  exercise  his  magic 
arts ;  for  which  purpose,  he  travelled  through 
that  district,  and  through  other  provinces, 
where  he  was  received  with  great  respect. 

=58  In  the  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint,  with  its 


usual  amplifications,  we  are  told,  St.  Brigid 
spoke,  before  that  natural  period  arrived, 
when  infants  usually  articulate.  Such  ac- 
count, however,  is  not  contained  in  her 
other  lives.  Colgan  refers  to  notes,  ap- 
pended to  St.  Fursey's  Life  at  the  i6th  of 
January,  and  to  other  particulars,  which 
serve  to  accompany  that  of  St.  Barr,  at  the 
25th  of  September,  for  parallel  instances  of 
children,  who  spoke  soon  after  their  birth, 
and  even  in  their  mother's  womb. 

259  In  Wright's  "Louthiana,"  part  i.,  p. 
9,  there  is  a  very  interesting  description  of 
certain  ancient  remains  in  this  locality.  Dr. 
Lanigan,  who  rejects  the  romantic  narrative 
of  St.  Brigid's  birth,  agrees  that  she  was 
born  in  Fochard.  He  further  observes  : 
*'  Whether  her  coming  into  the  world  in 
that  place  was  owing  to  her  parents  having 
had  a  residence  there,  or  to  their  being  on 
a  visit  at  some  friend's  house,  it  is  imma- 
terial to  enquire." — "  Ecclesiastical  History 
of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  II,  p. 
378,  and  n.  24,  p.  382,  ibid. 

^^°  St.  Brigid  was  patron  of  that  place, 
and  in  her  honour  a  monastery  of  Canons 
had  been  established  there,  at  a  time  when 
the  Fourth  Life  had  been  written.  See 
Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Quarta 
Vita  S.  Brigidas,  lib.  i.,  cap.  vi.,  p.  547. 

=^*  Foughart  is  a  parish  in  the  diocese  of 
Armagh. 

=*=  St.  Bernard  in  his  *'  Vita  S.  Malachiae" 
writes  ;  **  Venerunt  tres  Episcopi  in  villam 
Fochart,  quem  dicunt  locum  nativitatis 
Brigidae  virginis,"  &c.,  cap.  xxv.,  sec.  56. 

""^^  See  the  "Parliamentary  Gazetteer  of 
Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  197,  198,  for  an  in- 
teresting account  of  this  parish. 


36 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.         [February  i. 


d 


the  Barony  of  Upper  Dundalk,  County  of  Louth,  and  Province  of  Leinster. 
There,  too,  not  only  a  church  and  a  cemetery,  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  were 
to  be  seen  at  a  time  when  her  Fourth  Life  had  been  written;  but,  according 
to  local  tradition,  they  were  situated  even  on  the  very  site  of  that  house,  in 
which  she  had  been  born.^*^*  This  latter  statement,  with  a  sHght  emendation, 
is  probably  correct.  It  has  been  remarked,  that  the  allusion  to  a  monastery 
of  Canons  being  at  Foughart  shows  a  remote  antiquity  when  the  author  of 
her  Fourth  Life  flourished ;  for,  many  ages  back,  there  had  been  no  institute 
of  the  kind  discoverable,  nor  any  monastic  house,  specially  dedicated  to  St. 
Brigid,  at  least  from  the  period  of  the  eleventh  century. ^^5  The  old  church 
site  of  Fochard  is  situated  between  the  town  of  Dundalk  and  the  church  of 
Kilslieve,^^^^  being  about  two  miles  distant  from  either  place.  A  holy  woman, 
known  as  Monenna,=^^7  built  a  church  here,  at  a  very  early  period.^'^^  The 
exact  situation  of  Fochard  has  been  misplaced  in  some  records.^^9  In  the 
seventeenth  century,  this  little  village  was  called  by  the  Irish-speaking  peo- 
ple Fochart  Brighde,  or  "  Fochart  of  Brigid^^'^o 

In  the  three  previous  lives  of  our  Saint^^i  no  mention  is  made  concerning 
the  place  of  her  birth ;  which  is  also  the  case,  in  the  two  latter  lives,  viz. : 
the  Fifth  and  Sixth.  Admitting,  however,  the  usually  assigned  place,  where 
the  illustrious  virgin  is  said  to  have  been  born,  it  seems  likely  enough,  that 
old  circular,  cone-shaped  Dun,^7a  which  rises  high=^73  over  the  adjoining  fields 
on  the  very  summit  of  Foughart  Hill,  about  three  miles  north-west  of  Dun- 
dalk, supported  and  protected  the  house  of  Dubtach.^74  A  circular  level  on 
the  top  was  40  feet  in  diameter,  and  around  the  circumference  appears  to 
have  extended  a  wide  breast-work  of  masonry,  laid  with  mortar.  ="75  At  the 
southern  sides,  when  broken,  the  foundations  were  clearly  traceable.    A  deep 


^*'  At  the  rear  of  this  church,  the  local 
habitants  pointed  out  that  identical  stone, 
on  which,  it  was  traditionally  said,  St. 
Brigid  first  reposed  after  having  come 
into  the  world.  The  relic  was  held  in 
especial  veneration  by  inhabitants  of  the 
adjacent  country,  and  through  its  instru- 
mentality many  miracles  were  reported  to 
have  been  accomplished. 

=^5  Nothing  save  the  parish  church  at 
Fochart  was  known  in  Colgan's  time  to 
have  been  placed  under  her  special  invoca- 
tion. See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Quarta 
Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  i.,  cap.  vi.,  p.  547, 
and  nn.  13,  14,  p.  864,  ibid. 

"^^  Some  ruins  of  a  church  are  still  re- 
maining at  Kilslieve,  but  these  are  devoid 
of  all  architectural  beauty.  See  "The 
History  of  Dundalk  and  its  Environs,"  by 
John  D' Alton  and  J.  R.  O'Flanagan,  p. 
279. 

="•7  See  her  Life  at  the  6th  of  July. 

=^ Conchobranus,  in  "Vita  S.  Monennae," 
says,  that  this  holy  woman  first  built  a 
church  at  Fochart,  where  the  nativity  of  St. 
Brigid  took  place. 

"^  The  English  Martyrology,  at  the  1st 
of  February,  and  other  authorities,  state, 
that  our  Saint  was  born  in  the  County  of 
Kildare,  and  at  a  place  called  Fochart. 
But  Fochart  is  not  within  the  limits  of  that 
county.  However,  if  it  be  allowed,  St. 
Brigid  had  been  conceived  in  that,  or  in  any 


other  Leinster  county,  it  seems  certain,  she 
first  saw  light,  in  a  certain  village  called 
Fochart,  in  Louth  county,  in  Armagh  dio- 
cese, and  within  the  bounds  of  Ulster's 
ancient  province.  See  Ussher  "De  Pri- 
mordiis  Ecclesiarum  Britannicarum,"  pp. 
627,  705,  706.  Also,  David  Roth,  in  his 
Dissertation  on  St.  Brigid,  p.  151,  and  an 
Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  iii. 

^70  They  also  called  that  district,  in  which 
it  was  situated,  Machaire  Airgiell.  See 
Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Appendix 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  v.,  p.  617. 

'^^^  As  published  by  Colgan. 

=72  Thomas  Wright,  in  his  day,  correctly 
describes  it  as  "  in  the  form  of  a  frustrum 
of  a  cone."— "Louthiana,"  book  i.,  p.  9. 
There  was  formerly  some  sort  of  octagonal 
building  upon  the  top,  but  whether  it  had 
been  a  tower  or  parapet  breast  high,  there 
was  not  wall  enough  left  to  determine,  a 
little  after  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 

^73  About  60  feet,  according  to  Wright, 
but  it  is  certainly  of  a  lesser  altitude. 

='74  Two  curious  copper-plate  illustrations 
of  this  Dun,  with  the  shape  of  the  upper 
fort-like  works,  are  contained  on  Plate  xiv. 
of  book  i.  in  "  Louthiana." 

»75  In  May,  1874,  the  writer  visited  this 
spot,  and  found  it  nearly  in  a  perfect  state, 
except  towards  the  south,  where  a  portion 
of  its  sides  had  been  removed  for  manure. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS 


27 


circular  fosse  surrounded  the  lower  ascent  of  this  high  Dun,=76  from  the  top 
of  which  a  magnificent  view  of  the  bay  and  town  of  Dundalk,  with  the 
sublime  crags  of  the  Carlingford  mountains,  extending  far  into  the  sea, 
towards  the  north  and  east,  can  be  obtained.='77  Near  this  Dun,  in  the 
townland  and  parish  of  Faughart,  on  the  very  summit  of  a  rising  hill,  are  the 
ruins  of  St.  Brigid's  old  church.=78    The  entire  length  was  24  yards,  and  the 


Church  Ruins  at  Foughart,  Co.  Louth. 

breadth  7  yards  interiorly,  in  1836 ;  an  inside  gable  stood  at  a  distance  of 
about  10  yards  from  the  east  gable.='79  This  latter  was  demolished  to  within 
three  feet  of  the  ground,  in  the  middle  part,  the  sides  being  lower.  Only  a 
small  part  of  the  south  side-wall,  towards  the  east  gable,  stands.=^°  The 
remainder,  to  the  middle  gable,  was  levelled  with  the  ground.   The  north  side- 


^  276  Thomas  Wright  states,  * '  in  all  proba- 
bility, it  may  originally  have  been  a  Funeral 
Monument,  and  in  latter  days  formed  into  a 
Beacon  or  Fort,  either  as  an  out  Guard  to 
defend  the  said  Frontier,"  {i.e.,  of  the  old 
English  Pale),  "  or  signify  the  Approach  of 
an  Enemy." — "  Louthiana,"  book  i.,  p.  9. 
•  =^77  Mr.  John  Craig,  who  rented  an  adjoin- 
ing farm,  told  the  writer,  that  in  the  field 
next  this  Dun,  while  ploughing,  the  hoofs 
of  a  horse  sunk  through  some  flag  stones. 
On  examination  of  the  spot,  a  remarkable 
zig-zag-shaped  earth-cave  was  discovered. 
After  removing  some  of  the  covering  stones, 
he  descended  into  it,  and  found  it  regularly 
walled  on  the  sides.  Barely  stooping,  he 
was  enabled  to  pass  through  it  for  several 
yards,  covering  flags  being  over  his  head. 
He  saw  several  specimens  of    "crockery 


ware,"  within  the  cave,  through  which  his 
further  progress  was  checked  by  its  being 
choked  by  earth  and  stones,  in  one  particu- 
lar place.  The  extent  of  these  remarkable 
caves,  he  pointed  out  to  the  writer,  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  above,  and  he  ex- 
pressed the  greatest  desire  that  they  should 
be  carefully  explored  by  gentlemen  com- 
petent to  describe  them. 

=^78  The  people  in  1836  called  it  UeA'  pull 
AS\x>,  "  the  high  church, "  and  it  was  also 
designated  coa'  pull  lipi^'oe  riA  h-Ai|\t)e 
moi^e,  "Brigid's  Church  of  the  great 
height." 

^79  This  inner  gable  has  since  fallen. 

^^°  The  accompanying  engraving  by  Wil- 
liam Oldham,  8  Gloucester-street,  Dublin, 
is  from  a  sketch  by  the  author,  and  taken  on 
the  spot,  in  May,  1874. 


28 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


wall  was  reduced  to  about  7  feet  in  height,  east  of  the  middle  gable.^^^  The 
western  length  to  the  middle  gable  was  about  14  yards ;  the  side- walls' 
height,  in  this  part,  is  about  14  feet.  On  the  south  side-wall  was  a  breach 
near  the  middle  gable.^'^^  The  west  gable  had  been  reduced  in  height  to 
the  level  of  the  side-walls  ;  while  there  is  a  breach  on  it,  reaching  from  top 
to  bottom,  about  3  yards  wide.  On  the  north  side-wall,  about  7  feet  from 
the  ground,  there  was  an  opening,  reaching  to  the  top.  Another  opening 
next  the  middle  gable,  was  to  be  seen,  and  about  the  same  height.^^* 
This  ruinous  pile  of  masonry,  at  present,  is  in  a  very  dilapidated  condition. 

The  people  of  Foughart  neighbourhood^^s  preserved  a  tradition,  that 
this  church  had  been  built  by  St.  Brigid — especially  the  eastern  part — 
although  they  knew  not  that  here^"^^  was  her  birthplace.''^^  The  graveyard 
of  Foughart  is  still  much  used  for  interments.  The  base  of  an  old  cross  yet 
rises  over  the  graves.  This  last  resting-place  of  the  dead  is  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  the  invasion  of  Ireland  by  King  Robert  Bruce^^^  of  Scotland,^^^ 
and  by  his  brother  Edward  Bruce,''^^  who  prosecuted  it  to  a  disastrous  issue. '^^ 


=^'  About  a  yard  in  length  retained  the 
original  height  of  14  feet  towards  the  mid- 
dle ;  it  was  lower  towards  the  east  gable. 

'^^  In  1836,  seven  feet  from  the  ground 
was  an  opening  reaching  to  the  top. 

"^4  The  foregoing  is  the  substance  of 
Messrs.  P.  O'Keefe's  and  T.  O'Conor's 
description  in  a  letter  dated  Dundalk,  Feb- 
iiiary  15th,  1 836,  taken  from  "  Louth 
Letters,  containing  information  relative  to 
the  Antiquities  of  the  County,  collected 
during  the  Progress  of  the  Ordnance  Survey 
in  1835-1836,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  285,  286. 

»8s  In  1836. 

=^  None  of  the  inhabitants  were  able 
then  to  assign  a  signification  for  the  word 

=87  A  few,  who  read  St.  Brigid's  Life, 
said  that  she  was  born  within  2^  miles  of 
Dundalk,  on  a  green  near  the  old  road, 
leading  from  the  latter  town  to  Newry. 
Then  tradition  had  it,  that  she  founded 
Foughart  Church,  where  she  remained  2\ 
years,  before  she  went  to  the  nunnery  at 
Kildare.     Ibid,  pp.  286,  287. 

"^^  In  A.D.  1306,  this  heroic  chieftain  was 
forced  to  take  refuge  in  the  small  Island  of 
Rachlinn,  off  the  northern  coast  of  Antrim. 
In  the  spring  of  1306,  with  a  fleet  of  thirty- 
three  galleys  and  about  300  men,  he  sailed 
for  the  Scottish  coast,  * '  and  proceeded  on 
that  course  of  chivalrous  conquest  which  led 
to  the  establishment  of  his  country's  inde- 
pendence and  his  own  deathless  renown." 
About  700  of  the  northern  Irish  accompa- 
nied him  on  this  expedition,  and  these  were 
led  by  his  brothers,  Thomas  and  Alexander. 
See  Moore's  "  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  iii., 
chap,  xxxvi,,  p.  52. 

"^  The  reader  will  recollect  the  allusion 
to  his  taking  refuge  in  Ireland,  as  poetically 
recorded  in  Sir  Walter  Scott's  **Lord  of 
the  Isles,"  canto  iii.,  sec.  xi. 


The  scheme,"  said  Bruce, 
well ; 


■  contents  me 


Meantime  'twere  best  that  Isabel 

For  safety,  with  my  bark  and  crew, 

Again  to  friendly  Erin  drew. 

There  Edward,  too,  shall  with  her  wend, 

In  need  to  cheer  her  and  defend, 

And  muster  up  each  scattered  friend." 

=9<>The  old  Scoto- English  poem,  "The 
Bruce  ;  or  the  Metrical  History  of  Robert  I. 
King  of  Scots,"  by  Master  John  Barbour, 
Archdeacon  of  Aberdeen,  contains  the  most 
detailed  account  of  Edward  Bruce's  career 
in  Ireland,  in  Buke  Tend,  Buke  Eleuenth, 
Buke  Twelt,  vol.  i.,  pp.  277  to  368.  This 
is  published  from  a  Manuscript  dated 
M.cccc.LXXXix.  See  "The  Bruce;  and 
Wallace  ;"  edited  by  John  Jamieson,  D.D., 
with  notes,  biographical  sketches,  and  a 
glossary.  In  Two  Volumes.  Edinburgh, 
A.D.  1820,  4to. 

=51  That  brilliant  and  decisive  victory, 
achieved  by  the  Scots  over  the  English,  at 
Bannockbum,  in  13 14,  and  to  which  allusion 
has  been  already  made  in  the  Life  of  St. 
Foilan,  at  the  9th  of  January,  had  awakened 
for  a  kindred  people  warm  sympathies, 
while  it  aroused  ambition  among  the  north- 
ern Irish  chieftains,  to  originate  some  effec- 
tive means  for  obtaining  national  indepen- 
dence. Proposing  to  Robert  Bruce  the 
propriety  of  making  his  brother,  Edward, 
king  of  Ireland,  they  agreed  to  rally  round 
the  latter,  immediately  on  his  arriving  in 
their  country.  As  Edward  had  already 
demanded  a  share  in  the  sovereignty  of 
Scotland,  King  Robert  eagerly  inclined  to 
the  expressed  wishes  of  these  Irish  chiefs, 
and  made  every  preparation  to  organize  a 
military  and  naval  expedition,  destined  for 
the  coasts  of  Ireland.  Accordingly,  on  the 
26th  of  May,  131 5,  Edward  Bruce  landed 
on  the  shores  of  Antrim,  with  a  fleet  of  300 
sail  and  an  army  of  Scots,  estimated  at  6,000 
men.  Immediately  on  his  arrival,  the  Irish 
of  Ulster  hastened  in  great  numbers  to  fight 
under  his  standard.     With  united  forces, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS 


29 


A  hollow  space  between  Faughart  hill    and    Carrickbroad^s^  is  pointed 
out    as    the    spot    where    Bruce   was    killed,=93    in    that    last    desperate 


the  Scots  and  Irish  overran  the  whole  pro- 
vince of  Ulster,  within  an  incredibly  short 
period.  Dundalk,  Ardee,  with  some  other 
places  in  Louth,  were  taken  and  demolished 
by  the  invading  forces  and  their  allies.  To 
oppose  them,  De  Burgo,  earl  of  Ulster, 
raised  a  large  army,  chiefly  in  Connaught. 
He  formed  a  junction  with  Sir  Edmond 
Butler,  the  lord  justice.  The  Scots  and 
Irish  crossed  the  river  Bann,  when  they 
gave  battle  to  the  Earl  of  Ulster,  at  Connor. 
Here  the  Anglo-Irish  leader  was  defeated, 
and  afterwards  he  was  forced  to  fly  for  pro- 
tection towards  the  western  province.  Ed- 
ward Bmce,  who  had  already  caused  himself 
to  be  proclaimed  king  of  Ireland,  next  be- 
sieged the  castle  of  Carrickfergus,  where 
some  of  the  defeated  English  had  taken 
refuge.  Bruce  spent  some  time  endeavour- 
ing to  reduce  the  stronghold  of  Carrickfer- 
gus ;  yet,  at  last  he  raised  the  siege  to 
proceed  southwards,  through  the  midland 
counties  of  Leinster.  His  advance  caused 
the  rising  of  various  native  septs  ;  but  the 
prevalence  of  famine  at  this  time  obliged 
the  Scottish  leader  to  retire  upon  Ulster. 
At  the  town  of  Kells,  he  gave  battle  to 
I5,(X)0  English,  under  the  command  of  Sir 
Roger  Mortimer,  who  suffered  an  ignomi- 
nious defeat.  In  1 3 16,  King  Robert  Bruce 
landed  in  Ireland  with  a  great  army  to  assist 
his  brother  Edward,  and  with  united  forces 
the  garrison  of  Carrickfergus,  after  a  brave 
and  protracted  defence,  was  compelled  to 
surrender.  Robert  Bruce,  accompanied  by 
a  large  army  of  Scots  and  Irish,  advanced 
to  Dublin,  where  he  arrived  about  the  close 
of  February,  131 7.  The  Anglo-Irish  deni- 
zens were  in  a  state  of  consternation,  but 
lost  no  time  in  making  energetic  preparations 
for  defence .  The  English  and  Irish  appear 
to  have  been  almost  equally  demoralized 
and  disorganized,  during  the  progress  of 
these  transactions.  The  suburbs  of  Dublin 
were  burnt  down  by  the  citizens,  to  prevent 
their  invaders  from  finding  there  a  shelter 
on  approaching.  Richard,  Earl  of  Ulster, 
now  advanced  in  years,  was  arrested  on 
suspicion  of  having  favoured  the  cause  of 
Bruce,  whilst  DeLacy  joined  his  forces  with 
the  Scots  and  Irish.  King  Robert  Bruce, 
however,  on  finding  the  metropolis  so 
strongly  fortified  and  so  resolutely  defended 
by  its  Anglo-Irish  garrison,  deemed  it  a 
useless  waste  of  time  and  valour  to  attempt 
its  reduction  by  the  slow  process  of  a  siege. 
Conducting  his  army  southwards  through 
Kildare,  Kilkenny,  Tipperary  and  Limerick, 
he  burned  and  plundered  the  English  foun- 
dations, civil  and  ecclesiastical,  wherever 
he  passed.  Famine,  pressing  sorely  on  this 
desolated  country,  disconcerted  his  plans. 
Although  the  English  mustered  a  force  of 


30,000  men  to  surprise  and  harass  the  King 
of  Scotland,  they  did  not,  however,  venture 
to  risk  a  decisive  engagement  with  him. 
About  the  commencement  of  May,  Robert 
Bruce  was  obliged  to  retreat  upon  Ulster. 
He  soon  afterwards  set  sail  for  Scotland, 
leaving  his  brother  Edward  to  sustain  the 
cause,  in  which  his  fortunes  were  embarked. 
This  retreat  of  the  Scots  and  Irish,  into  the 
northern  province,  allowed  the  English  an 
opportunity  for  making  many  successful 
diversions  around  the  borders  of  their  own 
settlements.  In  the  year  13 1 8,  Edward 
Bruce  raised  a  small  army,  with  which  he 
advanced  to  Foughart,  near  Dundalk. 
Here  he  was  opposed  and  defeated  by  John 
Birmingham,  at  the  head  of  an  English 
force,  which  had  marched  from  Dublin. 
See  the  Author's  "Catechism  of  Irish  His- 
tory," lesson  XV.,  pp.  153  to  158. 

^9^  Some  written  accounts  state,  that  Ed- 
ward Bruce's  body  had  been  divided  into 
quarters,  and  had  been  sent  for  exhibition 
all  over  the  country.  See  Moore's  "  His- 
tory of  Ireland,"  vol.  iii,,  chap,  xxxvi.,  p. 
71.  This,  however,  does  not  appear  to  be 
confirmed  on  any  good  authority,  and  the 
local  tradition  is  probably  correct,  that  the 
headless  body  had  been  buried  in  Foughart 
graveyard.  Near  this  cemetery,  the  inha- 
bitants point  out  a  spot,  where  Bruce's 
horse  was  buried,  and  it  is  said,  the  bones 
of  this  animal  were  even  discovered,  on 
digging  for  them. 

="93  The  Rev.  Dr.  Drummond's  Poem,— 
of  no  special  merit,  however, — and  intituled, 
"  Bruce's  Invasion  of  Ireland,"  describes 
the  progress  of  the  Scottish  leader,  and  his 
final  defeat.  An  idea  of  its  measure  and 
style  may  be  gleaned  from  the  following 
lines,  relating  to  the  mustering  of  Irish 
chiefs  and  tribes  to  his  standard  : — 

*'  Blood-royal  O'Connor  his  infantry  guides 

From  regions  beyond  where  the  broad 
Shannon  glides ; 

Great  monarch  of  streams,  that  from  up- 
land and  dell. 

And  a  thousand  steep  mountains,  his  wide 
current  swell ; 

By  cities,  lakes,  forests,  and  fields  rich 
with  grain. 

Sweeping  on  with  his  sail-covered  tidfes 
to  the  main." 

"  With  these  comes  O'Mailey,  well-versed 

in  sea-wiles. 
The  lord  of  Craig-Uile,  a  prince  of  the 

isles  ; 
Of  th'  Arrans,  where  health-wafting  gales 

ever  blow. 
And  Bovin,  with  fat  lowing  herds,  white 

as  snow. 


3«> 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS       [February  i. 


4 


battle,  which  he  fought  on  the  14th  of  October,  a.d.  1318,294  at  Foiighart.^^s 
Many  of  his  chieftains  and  soldiers,  Irish  and  Scots,  fell  in  this  short  but 
decisive  conflict.  =^96  Although  during  the  course  of  three  years,^^?  pending 
which  he  waged  war  in  Ireland,  Edward  Bruce  had  encountered  the  English 
armies  in  eighteen  successive  and  victorious  battles,^^^  their  great  numerical 
superiority  at  the  battle  of  Foughart  caused  victory  to  favour  the  arms  of 
England  from  the  very  first  onset.299  From  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
church,  and  removed  about  four  yards,  the  grave  of  Edward  Bruce  is  shown.3°° 
The  authentication,  however,  is  only  sustained  by  a  popular  tradition. 
About  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  St.  Brigid's  Stone,  having  a  raised 
work  about  it  in  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe,  was  to  be  seen  at  Foughart. 3°'  In 
the  middle  was  a  rough  rocky  flint,  on  which  with  bared  knees  penitents 
were  accustomed  to  kneel.  Raised  upon  two  circular  and  concentric  steps 
was  elevated  St.  Brigid's  pillar. 3°^  Only  the  circular  stones  are  now  noticeable 
wthin  the  graveyard.3°3  These  are  singularly  suggestive  of  having  been  the 
base  of  a  round  tower.  The  burial-ground  is  well  enclosed  with  a  fine 
fence  and  a  quick-set  hedge  of  grown  hawthorns.  It  rises  high  over  the 
adjacent  fields.  North-west  of  the  old  church,  and  within  the  graveyard 
enclosure,  is  shown  "  St.  Brigid's  Well."304    It  was  dried  up,3°5  when  visited 


And  a  thousand  green  islets,  with  foam 

girdled  bright, 
Like  gems  chased  in  silver,  and  glistening 

in  light." 

**  As  birds  to  the  prey  that  come  rushing 

from  far. 
They  speed  to  enjoy  the  grand  pastime  of 

war ; 
Proud  Flaiths  on  whose  helmets  gemmed 

coronets  shine  ; 
Proud  Tanists  with  baldrics  enriched  by 

the  mine." 

This  Poem  was  issued  in  a  small  i2mo 
volume,  at  Dublin,  in  1826. 

'94  According  to  John  Fordun's  "Scoti- 
chronicon,"  vol.  ii.,  lib.  xii.,  cap.  xxxvii., 
p.  271,  Walter  Goodall's  Edition. 

=^5  Authors  differ  greatly  in  their  account 
both  of  the  numbers  engaged,  and  of  those 
who  fell.  Barbour,  whose  object  it  was  to 
pay  all  possible  honour  to  the  valour  of  his 
countrymen,  says  that  Bnice's  army  con- 
tained about  2,000  men,  not  including  his 
Irish  auxiliaries  ;  and  that  they  were  oppo- 
sed by  the  overwhelming  multitude  of  40,000. 
Bruce,  at  his  landing,  had  6,000  men,  and 
he  afterwards  received  reinforcements  from 
Scotland.  Now,  though  he  sustained  some 
loss  from  the  sword,  famine,  and  other 
c^ualties  of  war,  it  is  scarcely  credible  that 
his  forces  were  reduced  to  one-third.  The 
Irish  annals  compute  his  numbers  at  3,000  ; 
but  Ware  says  that  8,274  fell  in  the  field, 
and  that  they  were  opposed  by  only  1,324 
men-at-arms.  Walsingham  states  the  num- 
ber of  the  slain  to  be  5,800,  besides  29  barons 
and  knights.  The  Anglo-Irish  army  is  not 
said  to  have  sustained  any  loss  beside  that 
of  Maupus.  See  "  Bruce's  Invasion  of  Ire- 
land," note  viii.,  pp.  113,  114. 


=9^  Relative  to  the  issue  of  this  battle,  we 
are  told  in  "The  Brus,"  writ  be  Master 
Johne  Barbour : — 

"  And  tha  that  at  the  fichting  wer 
Socht  Schir  Eduard  to  get  his  hed 
Emang  the  folk  that  thar  was  ded." 

— Sec.  cxxxii.,  11.  200  to  202.  The  Spald- 
ing Club  Edition,  edited  by  C.  Innes,  p. 
423.     Aberdeen,  1856,  4to. 

=97  An  interesting  account  of  this  Irish 
expedition  of  the  Bruces  is  given  in  Sir  Da- 
vid Dalrymple's  (Lord  Hailes')  "  Annals  of 
Scotland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  60  to  82.  Edin- 
burgh, A.D.  1776,  1779,  4to. 

=98  See  Barbour's  "Bruce,"  book  xii. 

'99  See  Thomas  Moore's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxxvi.,  p.  70. 

3°°  In  1836,  his  tomb  was  pointed  out  on 
the  west  end  of  the  grave ;  the  remainder 
being  concealed  in  the  ground.  Then  it  lay 
nearly  horizontal,  but  sinking  slightly  to 
the  east  side.  It  was  said  to  have  been 
covered  by  notches,  one  of  which  was  then 
visible. 

3°'  This  object  seems  to  have  disappeared. 

3°^  Thomas  Wright  informs  us,  that  the 
nuns  of  the  convent  used  to  go  upon  their 
knees  on  particular  occasions ;  sometimes 
around  the  lesser  and  sometimes  around  the 
larger  circles,  as  their  penitence  required. 
See  "  Louthiana,"  book  iii.,  p.  19. 

3°3  Views  of  all  the  foregoing  curious  ob- 
jects are  preserved  for  us  in  Plate  xx.,  book 
iii.,  of  Wright's  "  Louthiana,"  while  in 
addition  there  is  a  ground  plan  of  St. 
Brigid's  quadrangular  church  in  the  grave- 
yard. 

3°*  In  Irish  CobA^  1if^$t>e. 

3°5  This,  we  were  told,  was  the  result  of 
some  previous  desecration. 


February  i, 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS 


Jt 


by  the  writer,3°6  but  a 
pyramidical  structure  of 
stone  and  mortar,  over  a 
square  aperture,  remain- 
ed.3°7  It  is  on  a  slopin-^ 
part  of  the  burial- 
ground,  and  surrounded 
by  thickly-matted  thorn 
bushes. 

In  the  Parish  of 
Foughart,  there  are  five 
remarkable  Moats. 
Three3°8  of  these  are  on 
the  townland  of  Upper 
Faughart ;  another  Moat 
is  in  Lower  Faughart,  3°9 
while  one  is  onRoskeagh 
townland.3^° 

All  writers  are  agreed, 
that  St.  Brigid's  birth 
cannot  be  very  distantly 
removed  from  the  mid- 
dle of  the  fifth  century. 
But  authorities  differ  as 
to  the  exact  date.  Some 
writers — as  for  instance 
the  Bollandists3" — place 
it  so  early  as  the  year 
436  or  437.3"  The 
"  Annals  of  Dublin " 
and  the  "  Annals  of 
Ross,3^3  with  Friar  John 
Clynn3H  and  Dr.  Mere- 


st. Brigid's  Well,  Faughart. 


3°6  In  May,  1874. 

3°7  The  accompanying  illustration  was 
drawn  on  the  spot  by  V.  George  Du  Noyer, 
and  transferred  to  wood  from  his  sketches 
in  the  R.  I,  A;  by  Gregor  Grey,  of  Dublin, 
who  also  engraved  it. 

3<^  One  is  called  m6cA  ^aSa^c  ;  another 
is  denominated  moCA  aw  c-'peAti  •otiine  ; 
while  the  other  has  no  distinguishing  name. 

3°9  This  is  called  flAc  ]"AileA6, 

s^°  This  is  styled  mocA  Uac  fjeAfi.  See 
"Louth  Letters,  containing  Information 
relative  to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County, 
collected  during  the  Progress  of  the  Ordnance 
Survey  in  1835-1836,"  vol.  i.,  p.  294. 

3"  Tillemont  properly  remarks,  they  had 
no  sufficient  grounds  for  their  statements  or 
conjectures.  These  they  were  obliged  to 
adopt,  because  they  supposed  St.  Brigid 
had  interviews  with  St.  Patrick,  and  that  he 
had  requested  her  to  weave  a  shroud  for 
him. 

312  This  circumstance  of  St.  Brigid  weav- 
ing St.   Patrick's  shroud  is    assigned   by 


Henschenius  and  Papebrochius,  to  A.D. 
458,  to  make  it  accord  with  their  hypothesis 
regarding  St.  Patrick's  death  occurring,  as 
they  suppose,  in  460.  Their  predecessor 
Bollandus,  who  admitted  the  circumstance, 
relating  to  friendship  existing  between  St. 
Patrick  and  St.  Brigid  ("  Acta  Sanctorum, 
Februarii,"  torn,  i.,  i.  Februarii),  was  not 
obliged  to  antedate  St.  Brigid's  birth.  For, 
with  Ussher,  he  supposed  the  former  to 
have  lived  until  the  year  493.  "Now  the 
successors  of  Bollandus,  when  they  rejected 
this  date,  should  have  rejected  also  what 
has  been  said  about  the  shroud,  &c.,  and 
thus  would  not  have  been  reduced  to  assign, 
in  opposition  to  the  best  authorities,  her 
birth  to  the  time  above  mentioned,  and  her 
death  to  506  or  517."  See  Dr.  Lanigan's 
"  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  p.  378,  and  n.  25,  pp. 
382,  383,  ibid. 

3'3  See  Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesi- 
arum  Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  459. 

3^4  See  this  Tract  of  his  published  by  the 


32 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


dith  Hanmer,3^5  have  439.  Another  calculation  should  make  her  first  see  the 
light  in  443.3^^  The  "  Annals  of  Roscrea"  note  this  event  at  a.d.  449.3^7  A 
judicious  Irish  historian  considers,  that  including  a.d.  451  and  458,  St.  Brigid's 
birth  must  have  occurred  at  some  time  within  such  era.  Following  Ussher's 
computation,  affixing  her  birth  to  a.d.  45 3, ^^^  Dr.  Lanigan  appears  to  concur. 
The  "  Annals  of  Cambria"3i9  date  it  at  a.d.  454.  The  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen" 
give  A.D.  456  in  the  opinion  of  some  writers.s^Q  In  the  "  Annals  of  Senat 
Mac  Magnus,"  said  to  have  been  compiled  by  Charles  Maguire,  authors  are 
cited  for  assigning  the  holy  Virgin's  birth  to  a.d.  457.3^'  Henry  of  Marl- 
borough brings  this  event  to  so  late  a  period  as  468.3''' 

According  to  his  computation,  St.  Brigid  was  only  twelve  years  of  age, 
when  St.  Patrick  died,  if  we  adopt  Dr.  Lanigan's  opinion ;  and  the  same 
writer  supposes,  our  Saint  might  have  been  known  to  the  Apostle  of  Ireland, 
at  a  very  early  age,  in  consequence  of  her  singular  sanctity  having  become 
conspicuous,  and  as  she  was  derived  from  an  illustrious  family.  But,  it  is 
thought,  she  could  not  have  become  a  professed  nun  at  that  time,  nor  have 
already  founded  any  religious  house.3*3  During  St.  Patrick's  lifetime, 
according  to  the  most  consistent  and  authentic  acts  of  both  Saints,  the  same 
historian  remarks,  that  Brigid  is  not  represented  as  having  been  a  consecrated 
Virgin.  However  minute,  in  all  matters  relating  to  St.  Patrick,  his  Tripartite 
Life  only  mentions  St.  Brigid  on  one  occasion.  3^4  There  it  is  related,  that, 
when  Hstening,  together  with  a  vast  number  of  people,  to  a  sermon  of  his, 
she  fell  asleep  and  had  a  vision  relative  to  the  then  state  of  the  Irish  Church 
and  to  its  future  vicissitudes,  as  expounded  by  St.  Patrick.  He,  knowing 
that  she  had  a  vision,  desired  her,  after  she  awoke,  to  tell  what  she  saw. 
The  Saint  replied,  that  at  first  she  beheld  a  herd  of  white  oxen  amidst  white 
crops,  then  spotted  ones  of  various  colours,  after  which  appeared  black  and 
dark-coloured  oxen.  These  were  succeeded  by  sheep  and  swine,  wolves 
and  dogs  jarring  with  each  other.325    There  appears  to  be  no  good  reason 


Irish  Archaeological  Society.  "Quadrin- 
gentesimo  39°.  Nascitur  beata  virgo  Bri- 
gida." — "  Annales  Hiberniee,"  p.  4. 

3'S  In  his  "  Chronicle  of  Ireland,"  p.  89. 
Other  writers  assume  the  same  date,  as  in 
"Vetusto  libro  Chromelliae,"  quoted  by 
Ussher.  See  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum 
Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  459. 

S"**  Colgan  remarks,  that  according  to  an 
opinion,  not  improbable,  St.  Brigid  lived  to 
be  eighty  years.  Hence,  as  it  is  very 
generally  supposed,  she  died  on  February 
1st,  A.D.  523,  her  birth  must  naturally  be 
referred  to  A.D.  443.  See  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga,"  Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S. 
Brigidaj,  cap.  ix.,  p.  620. 

3'7  See  ibid, 

3*8  See  "Index  Chronologicus,"  at  A.D. 
CCCCLiii.,  p.  520. 

3*9  The  "Annales  Cambrige,"  supposed 
by  the  editor,  Rev.  John  Williams  ab  Ithel, 
to  be  perhaps  the  oldest  chronicle  of  Welsh 
aflfairs  extant,  places  her  birth  at  A.D.  454. 
See  Preface,  p.  ix.  and  p.  3. 

320  See  "Annales  Inisfalenses,"  p.  3, 
tomus  ii.  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Return  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores." 

3"  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
U.,  p.  620. 


3"  So  states  Ussher  in  "  Britannicarum 
Ecclesiarum  Antiquitates," cap.  xvii.,  p. 459. 
However,  in  Henry  Marleburrough's 
"Chronicle  of  Ireland,"  as  published  by  the 
Hibemia  Press  Company,  4to,  in  1809,  we 
find  no  such  notice,  and  there  his  Chronicle 
commences  with  A.D.  1 285,  ending  with 
A.D.  1421. 

3^3  <'  The  lowest  age,  which  I  find  to  have 
been  allowed  in  those  times  in  any  part  of 
the  Church  for  taking  the  veil,  was  that  of 
16  or  17  years.  (St.  Basil,  Ep.  Canonica, 
can.  18.)  The  African 'Canons  fixed  it  at 
25  ;  and  this  regulation  became  very  general 
in  the  Western  Church.  Yet  even  in  the 
countries  where  it  was  received,  it  might 
have  been  dispensed  witli  in  certain  cases. 
(See  Gilbert,  Corp.  J.  Can.,  torn,  ii.,  p. 
410)." — Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii, 
n.  27,  p.  383. 

3=-^  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Septima  Vita  S.  Patricii,  lib.  iii.,  cap.  iv., 
pp.  149,  150. 

3=5  See  also  Jocelyn's,  or  Sexta  Vita  S. 
Patricii,  cap.  xciv.,  xcv.,  Colgan's  "Trias 
Thaumaturga,"  pp.  86,  87.  Dr.  Lanigan 
adds  :— "  In  this  narrative  there  is  nothing 
repugnant  to  the  ways  of  the  Almighty, 
who  has  been  often  pleased  to  impart  to 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  33 


for  admitting,  that  during  the  illustrious  Apostle's  life-time,  St.  Brigid  had 
been  abbess  of  a  monastery,  nor  concerning  her  having  woven  that  shroud, 
in  which  St.  Patrick's  body  was  enveloped  after  death,  and  at  his  own  parti- 
cular request. 326  Still  more,  it  nmst  be  observed,  that  neither  Cogitosus, 
nor  the  author  of  the  first  or  of  the  fifth  Life,  has  a  single  word  about  it. 
What  is  very  remarkable,  moreover,  these  never  once  mention  St.  Patrick, 
notwithstanding  the  care,  with  which  they  collected  whatever  could  redound 
to  the  honour  of  St.  Brigid.  Had  she  enjoyed  those  frequent  interviews,  or 
kept  up  a  correspondence  with  St.  Patrick,  or  attended  him  at  his  death,  it 
is  scarcely  possible,  that  those  writers,  who  are  evidently  her  most  ancient 
biographers,  should  have  been  quite  silent  on  such  material  points. 

From  her  very  childhood,  we  are  told,  she  had  been  accustomed  to  an 
excellent  course  of  instruction ;  and,  as  she  grew  up,  this  holy  maiden  pre- 
sented each  day  some  fresh  proof  of  religious  decorum  and  modesty.  In 
all  things,  she  conformed  to  the  inspirations  of  Divine  Grace.  Her  very  name 
seemed  pre-ordained  to  indicate  her  future  spiritual  state. 3^7  The  story  is 
told  of  her,  that  when  she  was  a  mere  child,  playing  at  holy  things,  she  got 
a  smooth  slab  of  stone  which  she  tried  to  set  up  as  a  little  altar ;  then  a 
beautiful  angel  joined  in  her  play,  and  made  wooden  legs  to  the  altar,  and 
bored  four  holes  in  the  stone,  into  which  the  legs  might  be  driven,  so  as  to 
make  it  stand. ^^^  Such  legends  as  these — although  inexactly  preserved — 
usually  attest  a  life  of  virtue,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  SCOTCH  CLAIM  TO  ST.  BRIGID'S  BIRTH  EXAMINED — PROBABLE  ORIGIN  OF  THIS 
ERROR — REFUTATION  —  EARLY  AND  SUPERNATURAL  INDICATIONS  OF  BRIGID's 
SANCTITY — HER  SPIRIT  OF  PROPHECY  MANIFESTED— HER  INFANTILE  VIRTUES — 
HER  PROBABLE  ACQUAINTANCE  WITH  ST.  PATRICK  DURING  CHILDHOOD — HER  RE- 
SOLUTION TO  LIVE  A  VIRGIN — HER  CHARACTERISTICS  AND  COMPARISON  TO  THE 
BLESSED  VIRGIN  MARY  BY  THE  IRISH. 

It  must  appear  strange,  at  the  present  day,  to  understand,  that  some  of  the 
mediaeval  Scotch  chroniclers  and  historians  reputed  St.  Brigid  to  have  been 
a  native  of  modern  Scotland.  This  idea  probably  arose  from  the  fact,  that 
ancient  writers  of  her  Acts  stated  her  having  been  born,  her  having  lived,  and 


little  ones  secrets  and  gifts,  which  He  with-  Enfans  celebres,  what  may  we  not  expect 
held  from  the  learned  and  wise  of  this  world.  from  the  omnipotence  of  God  in  the  order 
It  was  thus  that  while  the  chief  priests  and  of  grace?" — *'  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire- 
scribes  remained  in  their  infidelity,  the  chil-  land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  n.  28,  pp.  383, 
dren  cried  out,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David,  384. 

through  a  Divine  impulse,  as  appears  from  3=^  This  circumstance  is  mentioned,  in  the 

our   Saviour's  answer  to  those  wiseacres;  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Ix.,  p.  534; 

*  And  they  said  to  him  ;  hearest  thou  what  in  the  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidoe,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 

these  say?    Jesus  replied;    Yes:    have  you  xxx.,  p.   554;    and  in  the   Sexta  Vita  S. 

never  read,  that  out  of  the  mouth  of  injants  Brigidse,  sec.  xlvi.,  p.  592. 

and  sucking  babes  thou  hast  perfected  praise  ?'  327  So  Laurence  of  Durham  appears  to 

Matt.  xxi.  16.     St.  Brigid  might  have  been  think  ;  while  Colgan  remarks,  that  Brigh, 

at  that  time  ten  or  eleven  years  old,  an  age  meaning  "virtue,"  is  likely  to  have  been 

fully  sufficient  to  render  her  in  the  hands  of  the  original  Irish  source  for  the  name  Brigida 

God,  an  instrument  fit  for  displaying  the  or    Brigid.      See    "Trias    Thaumaturga,** 

wonderful  effects  of  His  grace  and  His  know-  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  viii.,  and  n. 

ledge  of  all  things.     If  in  what  is  called  the  10,  pp.  569,  640. 

order  of  nature  we  find  so  many  children  of  3="^  See  Rev.  S.  Baring- Gould's  "Lives  of 

extraordinary  precocity  in  learning,  so  many  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  i,  p.  17. 

Vol.  II.  D 


34 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,       [February  i. 


I 


her  having  died  in  Scotia.  Yet  by  such  term,  those  do  not  refer  to  any  other 
country,  except  our  own  island.  Among  Scottish  authors,  who  claim  our  illus- 
trious patroness  as  their  countrywoman,  may  be  specially  mentioned  John 
Major''  and  Hector  Boece.*  Both  Camerarius^  and  Dempster*  assert,  that  she 
was  born,  and  that  she  died,  in  Albania  or  British  Scotia.  It  has  been  generally 
advanced  by  old  writers,  that  she  was  of  Scottish  race.  Thus,  George  Gam- 
feld,5  or  Garnefelt,  Antonio  Possevino,^  Raphael  Volaterranus,^  Sigebert  Gem- 
blacensis^  and  Marianus^  write.  That  St.  Brigid  was  born  in  Scotia  is  an  opinion 
formed  by  Antonius  Sabellicus,^°  by  Petrus  de  Natalibus,"  and  by  a  writer 
of  the  general  Chronicles  of  the  World.  Sigebert  tells  us,  she  died  in  the 
same  country  at  the  year  578,  and  the  Chronicle,  entitled,  "Rudimentum 
Novitiorum,"  has  her  death  at  a.d.  520.  Her  Natalis,  indeed,  has  been  ob- 
served in  Scotia,  on  the  ist  of  February.  This  may  be  found  among  nearly 
all  Hagiologists  and  Martyrologists.  It  is  noted  in  the  Roman  Martyrology, 
and  in  the  Martyrologies  of  Bede,  Usuard,  Ado,  Viennen.,  Rodulphus  Rivius, 
and  the  Carthusian  Martyrology.  Galesinus  and  many  other  writers,  both 
Irish  and  foreign,  allow,  that  our  saint  was  a  native  of  Scotia.  Yet,  although 
this  be  admitted,  it  will  not  follow,  however,  that  St.  Brigid  was  born  in 
British  Scotia,  or  that  her  ancestors  were  natives  of  that  country.  On  the 
contrary,  evidence  is  afforded,  that  the  island  known  as  Hibernia,  had  been 
called  Scotia,  by  ancient  writers  of  every  condition,  age,  and  nation."  We 
are  told,  that  previous  to  the  eleventh  century,  no  one  thought  of  calling  that 
part  of  Britain,  now  known  as  Scotland,  by  the  name  of  Scotia.  Writers 
usually  called  it  Albania.  All  who  mentioned  Scotia  to  the  period  designated 
understood  Scotia  as  applicable  to  an  island,'3  situated  between  Britain  and 
Spain. '4  If  all  other  arguments  were  wanting  in  support  of  such  a  position, 
various  passages,  found  in  the  old  acts. of  St.  Brigid,  should  be  sufficient  to 
establish  it.  For  by  birth  and  descent,  this  holy  virgin  was  evidently  a  native 
of  Ireland ;  she  died  there ;  and  she  was  particularly  venerated  in  our  island. 


Chap,  ii.— *  See  "Historia  Majoris  Bri- 
tanniae,  tarn  Anglise,  quam  Scotiae,"  lib.  ii., 
cap.  xiv.,  p.  85.  Edinburgh  edition,  A.D. 
1740,  4to. 

=  See  "Scotorum  Historise,  a  prima 
gentis  origine,"  &c.,  lib.  ix.,  fol.  clxiiii. 
Prelum  Ascensianum,  fol. 

3  See  "De  Statu  Hominis,  Veteris  simul 
ac  novae  Ecclesiae,  et  Infidelium  Conver- 
sione,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  sec.  ii.  Camerarius 
cites  many  authorities,  yet  these  only  prove 
she  was  a  "Virgo  Scota."  Among  such 
authorities  are  quoted,  Rodulphus  de  Breda,' 
Tungrensis  Diaconus  "  In  Calendario  Gene- 
rali."  MassKus,  "In  Chronico,"  lib.  xii. 
Franciscus  Rosier  "  Stemmatum  Lothar- 
ingiae,"  tomusiii.  Gualterius,  "  In  Chrono- 
logio."  Genebrardus  "In  Chronico."  Ri- 
badeneira  "  In  Vitis  Sanctorum."  Delrio, 
"Disquisis.  Magic,"  tomus  ii.,  lib.  iv.  Ja- 
cobus Gretscrus  in  his  preface  to  ' '  Com- 
mentar.  Exegetici  in  Serenissimum  lacobum 
Magnae  Britannise  Regem."  Theuetus 
"  Cosmog,"  lib.  xvi,,  in  his  description  of 
Scotia.     See  pp.  140,  141. 

*  See  "  Historia  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Sco- 
torum,"  tomus  i.,  lib.  ii.,  p.  82.  Edinburgh 
edition,    1829,  4to.     Camerarius  supposes 


I,  lib. 

See 
tomus 


Chronicle"  at  A.D.  521,  ibid.^ 


Dempster  to  have,  "in  mendicabulis  re- 
pressis  Hibernorum,"  vindicated  our  St. 
Brigid's  fame  for  Scotland. 

5  See  "  De  Vita  Eremitica,"  p.  223. 

^  See  "Apparatus  Sacer,"  p.  252. 

7  Commentariorum.  Ad  annum  52 
xxi.,  p.  635. 

^  See  "  Chronicon,"  ad  annum  518. 
"  Monumenta  Germanise  Historica," 
vi.,  p.  314 

9  In  his 
tomus  V. 

"  See  "iEnead,"  viii.,  lib.  ii. 

"See  "Catalogus  Sanctorum,"  lib.  iii., 
cap.  Ixix. 

"  Almost  the  sole  exception  is  Dempster. 
"With  his  follower  Camerarius,  that  unac- 
countable chronographer  and  chorographer 
maintains  an  opposite  opinion  with  a  fantasy 
peculiar  to  himself. 

'3  This  Colgan  promised  to  prove  from 
ancient  and  modern  writers,  belonging  to 
every  age  and  nation,  in  a  volume  where  he 
intended  to  illustrate  solely  the  ecclesiastical 
antiquities  of  Ireland.  This  work,  however, 
he  did  not  live  to  publish. 

'*  In  accord  with  a  prevailing  geographical 
notion  of  the  early  and  middle  ages. 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


35 


Hence,  as  a  consequence,  when  ancient  writers  mention  her  country  as  Scotia, 
it  is  certain  they  must  have  meant  Ireland. 

Dempster  most  strangely  asserts,  that  St.  Brigid  was  born  in  Laudonia,  a 
province  of  Albanian  Scotia. 's  Now,  by  St.  Columkille,  Apostle  of  Al- 
banian Scotia,  and  patron  of  Scotia  Major  or  Hibernia,  she  is  called  our 
Saint  of  I^genia.  It  may  be  objected,  with  Dempster,  that  when  writers 
treat  about  St.  Brigid  and  her  parents,  the  word  Lagenia  or  Lageniensis  are 
everywhere  incorrectly  used  for  Laudenia,  Ladenensis  or  Laudianensis.^*^ 
But  this  is  clearly  a  foolish  and  blind  subterfuge.  Can  he  find  in  this 
Laudenia,  Kildare,  Campus  Leiife,  Campus  Gessille,  Campus  Bregh,  with 
many  other  Irish  names  and  places,  which  as  the  author  of  her  Third  Life*7 
relates  are  in  St.  Brigid's  country,  and  which  are  well  known  to  be  situated 
within  the  Irish  province  of  Leinster  ?  Can  he  find,  in  his  Scotia,  the  town 
Macha  or  Armagh,  the  ecclesiastical  metropolis  of  Ireland,  or  the  great  river 
Sinann,^^  which  turns  its  course  from  Albanian  Scotia,  and  which  from  near 
Clanawley  district,  runs  through  the  middle  of  Ireland,  into  the  ocean? 
Both  are  placed  by  this  same  author  in  the  Scotia  of  St.  Brigid's  birth. ^9 
Dempster  falsely  assigns  to  his  Scotia  these  places,  and  others  mentioned 
by  him,  such  as  Campus  Femhin,  Campus  Cliach,  Arx  Lethglass.  More- 
over, very  few  writers,  at  the  present  day,  even  if  ignorant  regarding  the 
situation  and  obscure  nomenclature  of  the  places  just  mentioned,  will  be 
foolish  enough  to  claim  for  Scotland,  all  the  other  Irish  provinces,  viz. : — 
Media,  =*«  Connacia,"  Lagenia,"  Ultonia,=3  Mummonia.^'^  So  long  as  these 
are  left  us,  we  can  still  lay  claim  to  Hibernia,  Brigid  and  Scotia.  =^5  Again, 
all  the  circumstances  related,  regarding  her  parentage,'^  birth,^?  receiving  the 


^s  St.  Cogitosus,  in  the  first  chapter  of  her 
life,  says,  that  St,  Brigid  was  born  in  Scotia, 
and  descended  from  the  good  and  honour- 
able family  of  Ethech,  her  father  being 
named  Dubtach,  and  her  mother  Brocessa. 
By  the  Scotia  here  mentioned,  it  is  evident, 
Scotia  Major,  or  Ireland,  must  be  intended  ; 
as  well  because  no  author  who  flourished 
before  the  time  of  Cogitosus,  nor  any  writer 
who  lived  400  years  after  him,  understood 
that  any  other  country  save  Ireland  had  re- 
ceived this  name  of  Scotia,  as  also,  because 
Ethech's  family  flourished  in  Hibernia,  and 
not  in  Scotia  Minor  or  Albania.  Again, 
the  same  author  mentions  a  celebrated 
church  of  St.  Brigid  at  Kildare,  which  he 
greatly  extols  in  his  prologue,  and  most  ac- 
curately describes  in  the  35th  chapter  of  her 
Life.  In  this  church,  he  tells  us,  St.  Brigid 
was  interred.  He  also  names  a  most  exten- 
sive plain  of  BiL-,  in  the  27th  chapter. 
Other  bishops  of  Ireland  are  alluded  to  in 
this  same  life,  as  likewise  in  its  prologue, 
when  the  words,  Scotia  and  Hibernia,  Scoti 
and  Hibernienses  are  used  as  synonymous 
terms. 

^^  See  "  Historia  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Sco- 
torum,"  tomus  i.,  lib,  ii.,  pp.  82,  84. 

^^  Attributed  by  Colgan  to  St.  Ultan. 
See  •'  Trias  Thaumaturga, "  Tertia  Vita  S. 
Brigidae,  cap.  xlvii,,  li,,  lii,,  liv.,  Ixii,,  Ixiv. 
Many  other  references  might  be  made. 

*^  Now  the  Shannon. 


^9  See  ibid.^  cap.  Ixii.,  xcvii. 

=°  Now  Meath. 

=^  Now  Connaught. 

^  Now  Leinster. 

=3  Now  Ulster. 

=4  Now  Munster. 

"S  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
iv,,  pp,  614,  615,  

"^^  In  his  Life  of  our  samt,  and  m  the  first 
chapter,  when  speaking  of  her  father,  St. 
Ultan  tells  us,  that  he  was  a  certain  Dubtach, 
genere  Lageniensis,  &c.  He  states,  that  St. 
Brigid's  mother  had  been  sold  to  a  certain 
Magus  belonging  to  the  family  of  Neill  and 
to  the  territory  of  Meath,  at  a  time  when 
she  bore  our  saint  in  her  womb  (cap.  3). 
Animosus,  or  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's 
Fourth  Life,  informs  us,  that  there  was  a 
glorious  king  in  Ireland  named  Fedhlimid 
Reachtmar,  see  lib.  i.,  cap.  i.,  how  Eochad 
Fionn,  brother  to  this  same  king,  had  mi- 
grated to  Leinster,  and  that  there  Dubtach, 
St.  Brigid's  father,  descended  from  him. 
See  ibid. 

=7  The  author  of  the  Fourth  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  tells  us,  how  a  certain  poet  from  the 
northern  part  of  Ireland  bought  Brosaech 
the  mother  of  St.  Brigid,  during  a  time 
when  she  was  pregnant  (cap.  4)  ;  and  when 
treating  about  the  place  of  our  saint's  birth, 
he  assures  us,  that  it  was  a  town  named 
Fochart  Murthemne,  of  Conaille  Muirlhem- 


36 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


veil,  personal  connexionSj^"^  the  places  she  visited, ^9  the  houses  she  founded, 
and  where  she  died,3o  can  only  have  reference  to  Ireland. 3^  Besides  all  this, 
the  unanimous  opinions  and  traditions  of  the  Irish  and  of  every  other  foreign 
nation  tend  to  establish  most  conclusively,  that  the  illustrious  and  super- 
eminent  virgin,32  called  even  "  the  Mary  of  Ireland,"33  had  been  ever  con- 
tinuously and  specially  regarded  as  a  native  and  great  patron  saint  in  our 
country. 

At  the  present  day,  it  would  prove  quite  superfluous  to  enter  upon  any 
enquiry  as  to  the  country  of  St.  Brigid's  birth  ;  a  weight  of  historical  autho- 
rity and  universal  popular  tradition  fully  vindicating  the  claims  of  Ireland  to 
this  honour.  Yet,  it  appears,  Colgan  thought  it  necessary,  in  his  time,  to 
devote  a  rather  lengthened  dissertation  to  establish  a  position  controverted 
by  certain  Avriters.34  In  order  to  expose  Dempster's  misstatements,  and 
those  of  other  Brito-Scottish  writers,  he  addresses  many  arguments,  although 
dubious,  if  it  would  not  seem  diminishing  the  force  of  manifest  truth  by 
proving  a  self-evident  proposition.  In  the  first  place,  that  she  was  of  Irish 
descent  and  born  in  Ireland,  had  been  established  by  authorities  numerously 
cited.  Foreign  as  well  as  domestic  writers  bear  abundant  testimony  to  the 
fact  that  St.  Brigid  was  a  native  of  our  island.     Thus  Raban,35  Notkar,36  St. 


hne  district,  in  the  province  of  Ulster  (cap. 
6).  See  Ussher,  "  De  Primordiis  Ecclesi- 
arum  Britannise,"  cap,  xvi.,  p.  706. 

^^  It  can  be  shown,  by  referring  to  their 
descent,  festivals,  places,  and  days  of  vene- 
ration, that  many  saints,  allied  to  St.  Brigid, 
were  Irish. 

*9  The  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life- 
thought  by  Colgan  to  be  St.  Ultan — states, 
that  St.  Brigid  was  born  in  the  country  and 
house  of  a  Magus  (cap.  4) ;  that  this  identical 
Magus  went  with  the  infant  to  Connaught, 
so  soon  as  she  was  born  (cap.  5)  ;  and,  in 
the  following  chapter,  he  relates,  how  the 
child  had  been  brought  up  in  Connaught, 
until  she  had  become  a  grown  maiden.  He 
tells  us,  how  she  returned  to  Lagenia, 
where  her  father  lived  (cap.  11)  ;  how  she 
was  called  another  Mary,  at  a  certain  synod, 
assembled  in  the  plain  of  the  Liffey,  in  which 
Kildare  is  situated  (cap.  14) ;  how,  in  com- 
pany with  her  father,  she  left  the  house  of 
this  latter  to  visit  the  King  of  Leirister,  in 
the  Liffey 's  great  plain  (cap.  90).  He  re- 
lates, how  she  had  received  the  veil  in  that 
land,  belonging  to  the  Niall  family  (cap.  18), 
and  which  is  identical  with  Meath,  as  after- 
wards indicated  (cap.  2i).  He  also  records, 
in  the  following  chapters,  what  she  achieved 
in  different  countries  and  provinces  of  Ire- 
land, as  for  instance,  in  Theba  (cap.  39)  ; 
how  she  accompanied  St.  Patrick  to  the 
northern  part  of  Ireland,  called  Ulster,  and 
what  she  did  at  the  Castle  of  Lethglass  and 
in  the  town  of  Macha  (cap.  57,  60,  61)  ; 
how  she  went  with  Bishop  Ere,  of  Munster 
descent,  into  the  southern  province  of  Ire- 
land (cap.  71)  ;  how  returning  to  the  ex- 
treme bounds  of  Leinster,  she  entered  the 
Labrathi  country  (cap.  81),  and  how  in  fine, 
returning  to  her  father's  house,  she  saved 
him  from  impending  death  (cap.  2>J).  We 
have  already  seen,  that  in  a  hymn  subjoined 


to  St.  Ultan's  Life  of  our  saint,  she  is  said 
to  have  been  distinguished  in  that  island, 
*'  quse  vocatur  Hibernia,"  &c.  If  St.  Brigid 
had  been  bom  in  Britain,  is  it  not  strange, 
that  St.  Ultan,  in  no  place,  speaks  of  her 
birth,  education,  religious  profession,  &c., 
as  having  occurred  there,  while  these  inci- 
dents, and  special  localities  already  men- 
tioned, are  referable  alone  to  Ireland  ?  Nor 
does  he  even  indicate,  in  one  single  instance, 
that  she  had  ever  left  our  island. 

3°  In  his  Life  of  our  saint,  when  describing 
the  church  of  Kildare  in  Leinster,  Cogitosus 
tells  us,  that  St.  Brigid  was  buried  in  it 
(cap,  XXXV,),  And,  towards  the  end  of  her 
Acts,  Animosus  says,  that  she  died,  and  was 
buried  in  Ireland  (lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcix,). 
Blessed  Marianus  Scotus,  in  liis  Chronicle, 
at  the  year  521,  writes,  **  S,  Brigida  Scota 
Virgo  in  Hibernia  diem  clausit  extremum. " 

3'  These  reliable  writers,  St.  Cogitosus, 
St.  Cormac,  archbishop,  Animosus,  Keat- 
ing, and  others,  exhibit  this  fact  sufliciently, 
when  introducing  her  paternal  and  maternal 
genealogies. 

3'  St.  ^ngus  calls  her  a  "bright  Virgin 
and  chief  of  holy  Irishwomen,"  in  his  Festi- 
logy,  at  the  1st  of  February,  In  like  manner, 
Marianus  O'Gorman,  at  the  same  date, 
styles  her  "  Chief- Virgin  or  Chief  of  the 
Virgins  of  Ireland," 

33  Among  Irish  authorities  may  be  enu- 
merated, St,  Ibar,  an  Irish  Apostle,  who 
calls  St.  Brigid,  "Mary  of  the  Irish,"  when 
she  came  from  the  house  of  her  father  Dub- 
tach  to  that  synod,  assembled  at  Kildare, 
in  Leinster, 

3^  Such  as  Dempster  and  Camerarius, 

35  In  his  Martyrology,  at  the  1st  of  Feb- 
ruary, Raban  says,  "  In  Hibernia  nativitas 
S,  Brigidae." 

3*  In  his  Martyrology,  St.  Notkar  enters 
at  the  same  day :  "In  Hibernia  nativitas 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


37 


Bernard,37  Florence  of  Worcester,38  John  Capgrave,39  Francis  Hare,4° 
Zacharias  Lippeloo,^^  Cornelius  Grassius,4»  the  English  Martyrology,43 
Baronius,44  Herebert  Rosweyde,<s  Legends  of  the  Brabantine  Saints,^^  and 
a  great  number  of  other  highly  respectable  authorities,  may  be  cited. 
Various  Breviaries  and  offices  might  be  added.'*^  Nor  even  do  Scotch 
authors  of  respectability^^  deny  this  origin  for  the  Scotian  virgin,  in  ages  now 
past ;  while  none  of  them  at  present  claim  Scotland  to  have  been  the  country 
of  her  birth,  although  she  is  there  greatly  venerated. 

It  may  easily  be  supposed,  however,  that  John   Major49  and   Hector 


S.  Brigidce,  Virginis,"  &c. 

37  In  "Vita  S.  Malachire,"  he  speaks  of 
Fochart,  as  being  the  birth-place  of  St. 
Brigid,  while  alluding  to  St.  Malachy's  acts 
and  travels  in  Ireland,  cap.  xxiv. 

3^  Florence  of  Worcester  records,  "  S. 
Brigida  Scota  Virgo  in  Hibernia  obiit," 
A.D.  521. 

39  John  Capgrave,  in  his  **  Legenda  Sanc- 
torum Anglise,"  says,  "  Vir  quidam  in  Hi- 
bernia nomine  Dubthacus,  genere  Lage- 
niensis,"  &c. 

*°  "  VitDe  Sanctorum,"  at  the  ist  of  Feb- 
ruary. 

4'  "  Vitse  sive  Res  Gestae  Sanctorum,"  at 
the  1st  of  February. 

4*  At  the  1st  of  February. 

43  The  English  Marty rology,  at  the  1st  of 
February,  says,  "In  Hibernia  depositio 
S.  Brigidae,  virginis,  quae  in  Comitatu  Kill- 
dariensi  in  loco  Fochart  appellato  nata  est." 

44  At  this  same  year,  521  Baronius  says, 
"  Hoc  insuper  anno  S.  Brigida,  Scota  Virgo 
in  Hibernia  diem  clausit  extremum.  Hoc 
in  Chronico  gentilis  ipsius  Marianus  Scotus, 
cui  potius  assentiendum  putamus,  quam,  lis 
qui  ante  biennium  defunctam  ponunt." — 
"  Annales  Ecclesiastici,"  tomus  vii. 

45  In  his  "Chronicle,"  at  the  year  521  : 
**  Eodem  anno  S.  Virgo  Brigida,  cujus  prae- 
clara  vita  hodie  extat,  in  Hibernia  obiit." 

4*  In  the  "Legenda  Sanctorum  Brabantiae" 
we  read  :  "  S.  Brigida  venerabilis  Virgo 
Hibernia  fuit  instar  suaveolentis  rosse,  quae 
super  spinas  floret." 

47  That  St.  Brigid  was  an  Irishwoman  and 
a  Lagenian,  both  by  birth  and  descent,  will 
be  found  in  her  ofhce  in  the  "  Breviarium 
Gienensum,"  when  we  read  :  "Natale  Bri- 
gidae  Virginis  quas  a  Christianis  nobilibus- 
que  parentibus  orta,  patre  Dubthaco  et 
matre  Broca,  a  pueritia  bonarum  artium 
studiis  inolevit,  adeo  ut  de  omnibus  pro- 
vinciis  Hibemise  innumerabiles  populi  con- 
fluentes  ad  ejus  monasterium,"  &c.  (cap.  2). 
Again,  in  her  office,  printed  at  Paris,  A.D. 
1620,  Resp.  I,  "Felicem  Hiberniam  beata 
Lagenia  declarat,  Brigida;  gignans  prosapiam, 
de  qua  latitiam  sumat  ecclesia  ;"  and  in  the 
hymn,  "  Haec  est  Laurus  Hibemiae,  cujus 
viror  non  marcuit,"  &c. 

4^  James  Gordon,  himself  a  Scotchman, 
in  his  "  Chronicle,"  at  the  year  521  :  "  S. 
Brigida  Scota  moritur  in  Hibernia."    John 


Bisciol  in  his  "  Epitonie  Annalium,"  A.D. 
521,  writes,  "  S.  Brigida  Scota  Virgo  in 
Hibernia  diem  clausit  extremum."  See 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Appendix 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  iv.,  pp. 
615,  616. 

49  It  is  strange  that  Major— otherwise  so 
learned — could  have  fallen  into  so  many 
chronological  and  historic  mistakes,  as, 
when  citing  Bede  for  authority,  he  states, 
that  St.  Columba  came  into  Britain,  while 
Brudeus,  a  powerful  king,  reigned  over  the 
Picts  ;  that  Gamard,  the  son  of  Dompnach, 
succeeded  to  Brudeus,  and  built  a  collegiate 
church  at  Abernethy.  Afterwards,  it  is 
added,  the  blessed  Patrick  brought  St. 
Brigid  into  that  place  ;  when  Gamard  pre- 
sented certain  possessions  to  the  holy  Brigid 
and  to  nine  virgins,  who  accompanied  her. 
These  possessions  the  Propositus  and  canons 
held  in  his  time.  See  "Historia  Majoris 
Britanniae,"  &c.,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xiv.,  p.  85. 
Bede  testifies,  indeed,  that  St.  Columba 
came  from  Ireland  to  Albania  in  the  year 
565,  while  Brudeus  or  Bridius,  son  of  Meilo- 
chon,  ruled  over  the  Picts.  See  "  Historia 
Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Anglorum,"  lib.  iii., 
cap.  iv.,  pp.  168,  169.  Gamard  succeeded 
in  the  government.  Now,  according  to 
Marianus  Scotus  and  Sigebert,  in  their 
Chronicles,  St.  Patrick  died  A.D.  491,  or 
according  to  other  admitted  accounts,  in 
493.  Thus,  he  flourished  many  years  be- 
fore St.  Columba  and  Brudeus  were  bora, 
or  before  Gamard  reigned.  Wherefore,  St. 
Patrick  could  not  have  introduced  St.  Brigid 
into  Abernethy,  during  the  time  when  lived 
any  of  those  already  named.  In  fine,  how 
could  St.  Brigid  be  installed  at  Abernethy, 
about  the  time  of  Garnard,  king  over  the 
Picts,  if  she  died  a.d.  521,  or  according  to 
other  accounts,  in  523  ?  or  how  could  that 
king  offer  possessions  to  her,  and  to  the 
nine  virgins,  accompanying  her?  If  it  be 
objected.  Major  meant  that  King  Garnard, 
bestowed  those  possessions,  not  during  St. 
Brigid's  life-time  but  to  express  his  great 
veneration  for  her,  when  she  had  departed 
from  this  world  ;  why,  it  may  be  asked,  does 
he  observe,  that  the  aforesaid  church  had  been 
built  by  Gamard,  that  St.  Brigid  had  been 
inducted  there,  and  that  certain  endowments 
were  made,  unless  St.  Brigid  and  her  virgins 
were  living  ?    We  may  remark,  there  is  not; 


3^ 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


Boetius,5°  who  advance  these  statements,  did  not  voluntarily  fall  into  error  : 
they  had  even  some  apparent  foundation  whereon  their  opinions  might  have 
been  based.  The  source  of  their  mistake  seems  to  have  arisen  from  the  in- 
determinate name  of  Brigid.  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  too,  has  strangely  con- 
fused her  period.s^  Many  other  holy  women  bear  a  similar  name  and  be- 
long to  our  country,  as  mentioned  in  native  martyrologies.  Nay  more,  in 
Scotland,  the  name  of  Brigid  was  highly  extolled,  and  several  females  were 
named  after  her.  Among  others,  there  was  a  certain  saint  so  called,  who 
had  been  buried  at  Abernethys^  in  Britannic  Scotia.53  Abernethy  as  a  see 
was  at  one  time  superior  to  St.  Andrew's. 54  It  was  even  primatial,55  but  it 
was  transferred  to  the  latter  place,  in  850.5'^  That  Brigid,  however,  was  quite 
a  different  person  from  the  Patroness  of  Ireland.57  As  this  latter,  had  been 
much  more  celebrated  and  exalted  in  popular  estimation,  she  was  probably 
considered  to  have  been  the  person  alluded  to,  by  those  writers  mentioned  ; 
they  not  having  known  about  any  other  Brigid,  nor  having  weighed  atten- 
tively those  arguments,  which  might  favour  a  contrary  conclusion.s^    It  is 


\ 


a  shadow  —  much  less  a  probability  —  of 
truth,  in  the  supposition,  that  St.  Brigid,  a 
Scot,  and  by  profession  a  Christian,  left  her 
country  and  Christian  friends,  with  a  band 
of  virgins,  or  betook  herself  to  a  Pagan  and 
hostile  nation,  as  alsobeforeits  kingand  chiefs 
had  been  converted,  establishing  herself 
there  in  a  royal  city,  where  she  dwelt  to  the 
time  of  her  death.  The  Northern  Picts, 
with  their  king,  had  been  pagans,  for  more 
than  forty  years  after  St.  Brigid's  death, 
and  until  St.  Columba  came,  from  Ireland  in 
565,  when  he  afterwards  converted  them  to 
the  faith.  These  facts  are  sufficiently  clear, 
from  the  testimony  of  Venerable  Bede. 
See  "  Historia  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Anglo- 
rum,"  lib.  iii.,  cap.  iv.,  pp.  168,  169,  and 
lib.  v.,  cap.  X.,  pp.  400  to  403. 

5°  See  "  Scotorum  Historise,  a  prima  Gen- 
tis Origine,"  &c.,  lib.  ix.,  fol.  clxiiii. 

S'  Thus  he  states,  that  St.  Patrick,  St. 
Brigid,  and  St.  Columkille  were  cotem- 
poraries.  See  "Topographia  Hibernica,!' 
Dist.  iii.,  cap,  xviii.,  in  Giraldi  Cambrensis 
**  Opera."  Edited  by  James  F.  Dimock, 
M.A.,  p.  163.  Father  Stephen  White  de- 
votes nearly  a  chapter  to  an  elaborate  refu- 
tation of  this  misstatement,  and  to  other 
errors  in  relation  to  them.  See  "Apologia 
pro  Hibernia,"  cap.  xii.,  pp.  123  to  131. 
Rev.  Dr.  Kelly's  edition. 

5'  See  an  interesting  account  of  this  place 
in  FuUarton's  "  Imperial  Gazetteer  of  Scot- 
land," vol.  i.,  pp.  22  to  24. 

53  In  Colgan  s  opinion,  the  St.  Brigid,  in- 
terred at  Abernethy,  should  rather  be  con- 
sidered a  holy  virgin,  who  was  a  disciple  of 
St.  Columba,  Bishop  of  Dunkeld,  in  Scot- 
land. She  is  mentioned  in  Capgrave's 
"Acta  S.  Cuthberti,"  and  in  Ussher's 
"Primordia  Ecclesiarum  Britannicarum," 
cap.  xvi.,  p.  705,  where  we  read,  "S.  Co- 
lumba primus  Episcopus  in  Dunkeld  Cuth- 
bertum  puerum  suscepit  ;  unaque  cum 
puella  quadam  nomine  Brigida  ex  Hibernia 


oriunda  retinuit,  et  aliquamdiu  educavit." 
It  is  supposed,  if  the  circumstances  of  time 
do  not  warrant  such  an  opinion,  those  of 
place  are  favourable  to  it,  for  this  St.  Brigid 
had  been  educated  in  Britannic  Scotia. 

54  See  Rev.  Mackenzie  E.  C.  Walcott's 
*'  Scoti-Monasticon  :  The  Ancient  Church 
of  Scotland,"  p,  2. 

55  Ibid.,  p.  72.  This  work  contains  some 
beautiful  illustrations  of  Scottish  churches. 

5^  Ibid.,  p.  84. 

57  It  is  said,  St.  Cuthbert  flourished  in 
Britain,  about  a.d.  660,  and  at  this  period, 
Garnard  lived  according  to  Buchannan's 
"Rerum  Scoticarum  Historia,"  lib.  v.,  p. 
148.  He  died  A.D.  640,  the  fifty-third  king 
of  the  Picts.  See  Rev.  Thomas  Innes' 
"  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Scot- 
land."    Chronological  Memoirs,  p.  225. 

58  In  his  time,  John  Major  remarks,  that 
St.  Brigid  was  venerated  at  Abernethy. 
See  "Historise  Majoris  Britannise,"  lib.  ii., 
cap.  xiv.,  p.  85.  But,  if  this  be  not  the 
identical  Brigid  there  venerated,  she  might 
have  been  a  St.  Brigid,  daughter  to  Neman, 
son  of  Aid,  son  to  Loarn,  son  to  Ere,  son  to 
Eochad,  sumamed  Muinreamhuir,  Prince  of 
Dalaradia.  She  is  thought  to  have  been 
venerated  in  Magoluinge,  on  the  9th  of 
March.  It  is  certain,  this  Brigid,  with  her 
three  sisters  Corba,  Lassara,  and  Lemania, 
had  descended  from  the  line  of  Dalriadan 
princes,  who  were  formerly  most  powerful 
chiefs  both  in  Scotia  Major,  or  Ireland,  and 
in  Scotia  Minor,  or  Scotland.  From  this 
line,  the  kings  of  Albanian  Scotia  issued. 
In  the  same  Albanian  Scotia  we  find  a  loca- 
lity, termed  Magluinge.  This  appears,  where 
the  plain  of  Lunge  is  said  to  have  been  "in 
terra  Ethica,"  according  to  Adamnan's 
"Vita  S.  Columbse,"  lib.  ii.,  cap.  15.  The 
country,  called  "  terra  Ethica,  seems  to 
have  derived  its  denomination  from  Ethech 
or  Echodius,  prince  of  Dalaradia,  or  as  he 
is  called  by  the  British  Scots  Ethod. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OE  7HE  IRISH  SAINTS.  39 


not  difficult,  moreover,  to  discover  the  origin  of  that  error,  into  which  Hector 
Boetius,59  and  other  writers  after  him,  had  been  betrayed,  when  they  state, 
that  St.  Brigid  of  Kildare  was  veiled  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  by  Bishop 
Machille.  In  some  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  we  read,  that  she  had  received  the 
veil  from  a  Bishop  Machille,  or  more  correctly,  from  a  Bishop  Maccalleus.^ 
In  certain  Acts  of  the  Irish  Apostle,*^^  it  is  stated,  that  Maccaldus,  or  more 
properly  Macculleus,  a  disciple  to  our  illustrious  Irish  Apostle,  had  been 
consecrated  a  bishop  and  placed  over  the  Isle  of  Man.*^*  Hence,  it  had  been 
incorrectly  supposed  St.  Brigid  received  the  veil  in  that  island,  while  it  is 
evident  from  her  Acts  by  Cogitosus,  that  she  had  been  invested  with  it,  not 
in  Mannia,^3  but  in  Media, ^-^  and  that  it  had  been  given  to  her,  not  by 
Macculleus,  Bishop  of  Man,  but  by  another  Maccalleus,  quite  a  different 
person  from  the  first-named  prelate.^s 

It  will  surprise  the  curious  investigator  of  our  glorious  saint's  biography, 
to  learn  on  what  grounds  Scoto-British  writers  state  her  birth  to  have  taken 
place  in  Laudonia,  that  she  was  veiled  by  Bishop  Machille  in  Mona  Island,^ 
that  she  died  and  was  buried  at  Abernethy,67  in  the  Tiffa  district  of  North 
Britain  ;  especially,  when  we  take  into  account,  that  among  many  writers  of 
St.  Brigid's  Acts,  no  one  of  them  has  even  stated,  she  was  born  out  of  Ireland, 
or  has  mentioned  any  other  place  or  country  in  Britain  having  connection 
with  her  Life  and  labours.  We  can  hardly  take  into  account  Dempster's 
ridiculous  explanation,  that  Ladenia,^^  a  province  of  Britain,  should  be  sub- 
stituted for  Lagenia.  In  previous  passages,  it  will  be  seen,  that  the  most 
authentic  accounts  make  St.  Brigid,  not  only  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  they 
even  assert  she  was  conceived  in  Leinster,  was  born  in  Ulster,  and  had  been 
educated  in  Connaught ;  they  likewise  state,  that  she  assumed  the  veil  in 
Meath,  while  her  labours  extended  to  Munster,  as  well  as  to  those  other 
provinces  already  mentioned.  In  fine,  it  is  stated,  she  died  at  Kildare  in 
Leinster,  and  afterwards  she  was  honourably  interred  at  Down  in  Ulster, 
having  been  deposited  in  the  same  tomb  with  St.  Patrick  and  Columkille. 
Moreover,  her  paternal  and  maternal  genealogy,  derived  through  such  a  long 
line  of  ancestors,  so  many  saints  related  to  her,  so  many  other  holy  Irish 
virgins  bearing  her  name,  and  so  many  journeys  take;i  by  her,  through  Irish 


59  See   "Scotorum  Historic,"   &c.,  lib.  ''s  See   "Appendix   Quarta  ad  Acta  S. 

ix.,  fol.  clxiiii.  Brigidae,"  cap.  iv.,  pp.  614  to  617,  ibid. 

^  See   Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "  ^  A  fine  old  Map  of  Mona,  with  Coats  of 

Hymnus  seu  Prima  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  8,  Arms,  coloured,  was  published  in  folio  size 

p.  515.     Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  iii.,  about  A.D.  1620.     In   1835,  was  issued  at 

p.  519.    Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxix.,  Douglas,   in   8vo   shape,    Arch.    Cregeen's 

p.  574'  "Dictionary  of  the  Manks  Language,  inter- 

^^  By  Jocelyn.  spersed  with  many  Gaelic  Proverbs." 

^'  See  "  Sexta  Vita  S.  Patricii,"  cap.  clii.,  ^^  There  is  an  interesting  account  of  Aber- 

p.  98.     Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  nethy  (Apumethige)  in  Rev.  Mackenzie  E. 

^3  The  Island  of  Man.     See  "  Chronicon  S.  Walcott's  "  Ancient  Church  of  Scotland," 

Manniee,  or  a   Chronicle  of  the  Kings  of  pp.  316,  317. 

Man,"  supposed  to  have  been  written  by  the  ^^  Colgan  says,  he  could  not  find  any  pro- 
Monks  of  the  Abbey  of  Russin,  for  an  in-  vince,  territory  or  spot,  called  Laudenia  or 
teresting  account  of  the  civil  and  ecclesias-  Landian.  If  perchance,  Dempster  wished 
tical  history  of  the  island.  This  i2mo  book,  to  understand  Laudonia,  most  certainly  in 
published  in  1 784,  contains  the  Norwegian  St.  Brigid's  time,  it  did  not  belong  to  the 
narrative  of  Olave,  the  Black  King  of  Man,  Picts  or  Scots,  but  to  the  more  southern 
with  other  curious  particulars.  Britons.     In  the  century  of  Venerable  Bede, 

^*  Or  the  territory  of  Meath.   See  Colgan's  it  appertained  to  the   Northumbrians  and 

"Trias  Thaumaturga."     Secunda  Vita  S.  English.     This  is  proved  by  Ussher,  in  his 

Brigidae,  cap.  iii.,  p.  519,  and  n.  ii,  p.  525,  "Primordia  Ecclcsiarum    Britannicarum," 

ibid.  pp.  663,  667. 


40 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


towns,  plains  and  territories,  from  her  birth  to  the  time  of  her  death,  prove 
conclusively,  that  St.  Brigid  should  be  specially  classed  among  our  national 
saints.  It  is  not  a  little  surprising — to  say  the  least  of  it — to  find  Dempster^? 
has  not  only  infelicitously,  but  even  incautiously,  jumbled  irrelevant  circum- 
stances, with  his  assertions.  7°  It  is  incredible  to  suppose,  that  so  many  reliable 
authors,  as  those  already  cited,  could  egregiously  and  perseveringly  have 
corrupted  the  names  of  Lagenia  and  Laudenia,  in  the  manner  it  has  pleased 
Dempster  alone  to  imagine,  and  that  without  any  grounds.7^  To  assume 
that  he  meant  Laudonia,72  if  we  allow,  that  before  Bede's  time,  it  belonged 
to  Albania,  it  certainly  was  never  under  the  Scottish  dominion,  but  solely 
under  that  of  the  Picts,  from  whom  Pictland  is  called.  If  therefore,  St. 
Brigid  had  been  born  in  Laudonia,73  it  must  be  conceded,  she  was  not  a 
Scot,  but  a  Briton,  or  at  least  a  Pict,  by  family  and  birth. 

To  resume  what  we  consider  the  more  legendary  accounts  of  our  saint's 
early  infancy,  it  is  said,  that  the  Magus,  the  mother  of  St.  Brigid,  her  nurse 
and  others,  who  were  sitting  in  a  certain  place  without  the  house,  saw  a  cloth 
take  fire  suddenly,74  and  it  touched  the  head  of  this  holy  child,  who  was 
beside  them.  But,  when  their  hands  were  immediately  stretched  forth  to  ex- 
tinguish the  flame,  it  disappeared  at  once,  and  the  cloth  was  even  found  to 
have  escaped  the  ravages  of  this  fire.  Such  a  portent  was  supposed  to  have 
been  an  indication,  that  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit  inflamed  God's  servant. 7S 
On  another  occasion,  while  this  same  Magus  was  sleeping,  he  had  a  vision 
of  two  angels,76  clothed  in  white,  pouring  oil  on  the  girl's  head,  and  seeming 
to  perform  a  baptismal  rite  in  the  usual  manner. 77  From  such  account, 
some  persons  have  inferred  our  saint  had  been  baptized  by  an  angel.  How- 
ever, this  should  be  a  false  conjecture,  as  the  Magus  is  merely  said  to  have 
seen  this  apparition  during  his  sleep,  and  it  only  indicated  the  future  per- 
formance of  the  rite,  as  also  the  name  Brigid  was  destined  to  bear.7^ 

One  of  those  angels  said  to  'the  Magus :  "  Call  this  virgin  Brigid,  for 


^  This  writer  remarks,  St.  Brigid  has  been 
called  a  Lagenian,  whereas,  she  ought  to  be 
considered  a  Ladenian  ;  her  father,  it  is  pre- 
tended, having  been  from  Ladenia,  deno- 
minated Landian,  in  Dempster's  time.  '*  Ex 
Ladenia  nunc  Landian,"  &c.  See  "His- 
toria  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Scotorum,"  lib. 
ii.,  num.  144. 

7°  These  manifestly  false  statements  ob- 
viously destroy  all  faith  in  accounts,  the  in- 
accuracy of  which  could  not  otherwise  be  so 
easily  detected  by  a  cursory  reader  of  his 
works.  "Wilful  negligence  and  perversion  of 
facts  are  very  clearly  attributable  to  this  self- 
constituted  historian. 

7'  Yet,  after  all,  if  we  should  institute  a 
careful  examination  of  the  entire  map  of 
British  Scotland,  we  shall  not  be  able  to 
discover  the  Ladenia  or  Landian,  imagined 
by  Dempster,  no  more  than  we  could  expect 
to  find  Lagenia  there.  Having  attentively 
read  over  all  the  names  of  Albanian  Scotia's 
provinces,  territories  and  other  particular 
localities,  and  their  very  accurate  descrip- 
tions, as  given  by  Hector  Boetius  and  George 
Buchannan,  Colgan  could  find  no  such  de- 
nomination. 

7'  A  very  interesting  account  of  this  pro- 
vince, Loudian,  or  Lothian,  will  be  found  in 


Chalmers'  "Caledonia,"  vol.  i.,  book  iii., 
chap,  vi.,  pp.  367  to  373. 

73  As  Dempster  states. 

74  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
the  Saint,  this  cloth  is  called  the  covering 
or  cap,  which  was  on  the  infant's  head,  pp. 
7,8. 

75  See  Colgan's  «' Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  vi.,  pp.  527, 
528.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap. 
X.,  p.  547,  ibid. 

7<^  The  Irish  Life  has  three  angels,  clothed 
in  white  garments,  like  clerics.  Professor 
O'Looney's  copy,  pp.  7,  8. 

77  Colgan  remarks,  that  the  ministry  of 
angels  is  often  read,  as  having  been  em- 
ployed in  the  administration  of  the  sacra- 
ments to  men.  The  Fifth  Life  expressly 
says;  "aqua  perfundentes  totum  ordinem 
baptismatis  sicut  Catholica  consuevit  eccle- 
sia,  super  cam  peregerunt."  Colgan  adds 
that  a  succeeding  prophecy  seems  to  have 
its  truth  confirmed  from  experience.  See 
"Trias  Thaumaturga."  Quarta  Vita  S. 
BrigidoB,  n.  16,  p.  564.  Quinta  Vita  S. 
Brigidx,  cap.  viii.,  p.  569,  and  nn.  9,  11, 
p.  640. 

78  See  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidac,  n.  7,  p. 
543.    Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  n.  15,  p.  564. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  41 


she  shall  be   full  of  grace  before  God  and  man,  and  her  name  shall  be 
celebrated  throughout  the  entire  world."     Pronouncing  such  words,  those 
angels  disappeared.      On  a  certain  occasion,  being  awake,  and  studying  the 
course  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  according  to  a  usual  custom79  during  the     .,., 
whole  night,  that  same  Magus  saw  a  column  of  fire  ascending  from  the    »    , 


house,  in  which  Brigid  and  her  mother  slept.  He  called  another  man  to 
witness  such  phenomenon.  In  the  morning,  an  account  of  this  prodigy  was 
given  to  many  other  persons.^  We  are  told,  that  the  child's  stomach 
rejected  the  food  of  the  Magus,  and  on  endeavouring  to  discover  a  cause  for 
such  nausea,  the  magician  was  urged  to  cry  out :  "  I  am  unclean,  but  this 
girl  is  filled  with  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  is  the  reason  why  she 
will  not  retain  any  sustenance  which  I  supply  to  her."  Whereupon,  he 
procured  a  white  cow,^^  which  was  intended  to  give  milk,  while  a  certain 
religious  and  Christian  woman  was  provided  to  take  charge  of  the  infant. 
That  woman  milked  the  cow,  and  the  milk,  afterwards  given  to  the  child, 
was  found  to  agree  with  her.  Yet,  while  the  infant  suffered  from  weakness, 
her  personal  beauty  even  improved.^^  As  the  maid  grew  up,  she  served  in 
menial  offices  about  the  house. ^3  Whatever  she  touched  or  saw,  in  the 
shape  of  food,  seemed  to  increase  in  a  miraculous  manner.  It  is  remarked, 
that  the  Magus  and  his  family  were  Pagans  at  the  time  of  these  occurrences. 
Afterwards,  however,  he  became  a  Christian.  A  little  before  this  latter 
event,  the  faith  of  Christ  is  said  to  have  come  into  Ireland. ^^  On  a  certain 
day,  the  infant's  voice  was  heard  praying  to  God,  while  extending  her  little 
hands  towards  heaven.  A  certain  man  saluted  her,  and  to  him  she  replied, 
"  This  will  be  mine ;  this  will  be  mine."  Hearing  such  words,  he  said ; 
"  This  is  truly  a  prophecy,  for  the  infant  says  this  place  shall  belong  to  her 
for  ever."    And  her  prediction  was  exactly  fulfilled.^s     in  course  of  time,  a 


79  The  Fourth  Life  has  it,   "  suoque  more  nion,  being  obliged  to  take  a  little  water 

astra  coeli   considerans,"   &c.     It   may  be  immediately  afterwards,  in  order  to  facilitate 

asked,   if  this  passage  throws  any  light  on  such  an  effort.     On  each  Thursday,   also, 

the  supposed  ^astronomical  pursuit  of  the  she  rather  tasted  than  drank  a  little  water. 

Druids  ?  And  during  such  a  long  lapse  of  time,  she 

^°  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  neither  eat  or  drank  anything,  besides  what 
Tertia  Vita  S,  Brigidae,  cap.  vii.,  viii.,  p.  has  been  already  mentioned.  Nor  had  she 
528.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  even  an  appetite  for  eating  or  drinking, 
xi.,  p,  547,  ibid.  As  usual,  the  foregoing  Although  she  was  reduced  to  a  great  degree 
circumstances  are  greatly  amplified  in  the  of  bodily  prostration,  and  could  not  walk  : 
Fifth  Life  of  our  Saint,  where  it  is  added,  yet,  her  mental  powers  were  unimpaired, 
that  the  Magus  and  his  wife  took  care  to  she  had  the  faculty  of  speech,  and  retained 
provide  a  nurse  for  the  infant.  This  nurse  a  great  appearance  of  personal  comeliness, 
assisted  the  mother  in  attending  to  its  wants.  This  wonderful  example  of  abstinence,  it  is 
It  is  also  said,  the  heads  of  the  family  were  said,  could  be  vouched  for,  by  more  wit- 
very  indulgent  to  the  mother,  even  although  nesses  than  even  the  inhabitants  of  that 
they  held  her  as  a  slave.  Quinta  Vita  S.  village,  in  which  the  maiden  lived.  Hence, 
Brigidse,  cap.  viii. ,  p.  569,  ibid.  a  less  remarkable  instance,   in  St.  Brigid's 

^^  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  has  a  case,  cannot  be  reasonably  doubted.     The 

"white  red-eared  cow,"  pp.  9,  10.  writer  then  adds,  that  what  the  Almighty 

2=^  The  writer  of  St.   Brigid's  Fifth  Life  had  effected  for  the  virgin  then  living  was 

remarks,  that  this  account  should  not  excite  only  known  to  the  great  Author  and  for  an 

the  incredulity — even  if  it  might  the  admi-  undefinable  reason.    See  Vita  Quinta-S.  Bri- 

ration — of  his  readers  ;  for,  in  his  own  day,  gidse,  cap.  x.,  xi.,  pp.  569,  570,  ibid. 

it  was  possible  to  see  a  certain  virgin,  that  ^3  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  states, 

dwelt  in  the  south  of  England,  and  that  she  that  she  used  to  train  the  sheep,  supply  the 

lived  for  twenty  years  in  her  father's  house,  birds,  and  feed  the  poor,  pp.  9,  10. 

without  taking  any  kind  of  food,  except  the  ^-^  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga, " 

Body  of  our  Lord,  which  she  received  on  Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidse,    cap.  x.,  p.   528. 

all  Sundays  of  the  year.     And  as  the  passage  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  vii.,  p. 

through  the  throat  was  of  narrow  compass,  547,  ibid. 

she  could  scarcely  swallow  Holy  Commu-  ^s  in  «'  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  *  the  Mary 


42 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS        [February  i. 


large  parish  was  formed  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  it  was  dedicated  to 
St.  Brigid.^^  Learning  those  foregoing  words,  some  local  inhabitants  went 
to  the  Magus  and  said  to  him :  "  Do  you  remain  with  us,  but  let  the  girl, 
who  has  prophesied  that  our  lands  will  belong  to  her,  retire."  The  Magus 
replied  :  "  I  shall  not  leave  my  female  slave  and  her  daughter,  but  I  will 
rather  quit  your  country."  Then  the  Magus,  with  his  family,  is  said  to  have 
directed  his  course  towards  Munster,  his  native  province.^7  There,  also,  he 
inherited  a  paternal  estate. ^^ 

In  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life,  we  afterwards  read  of  a  desire  entering  the 
daughter's  mind  to  return — in  all  probability — to  her  father's  home.  On 
learning  this  wish,  the  Magus  sent  messengers  to  Dubtach,  who  was  informed, 
that  his  daughter  could  be  received  free.  The  father  of  our  Saint  was  greatly 
rejoiced.  On  the  reception  of  this  message,  he  went  to  the  magician's 
house,  whence  he  returned,^?  accompanied  by  his  daughter.  The  Christian 
nurse  also  followed  her  youthful  charge.9°  This  attendant  was  seized  with 
some  complaint.  Our  Saint,  accompanied  by  another  girl,  was  sent  to  the 
house  of  a  certain  man,9':  that  they  might  procure  a  draught  of  beer  for  the 
patient.  In  this  expectation,  it  appears,  the  messengers  were  disappointed ; 
but  on  their  return  homewards,  St.  Brigid  turned  out  of  her  course  towards 
a  particular  well.^'*     Here  she  filled  the  vessel  borne  with  water,  and  instantly 


of  Erin,'  and  the  special  Patroness  of  the 
Dioceses  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  O'Donnell  of 
Maynooth  College,  the  expressions  of  the 
holy  infant  are  referred,  not  to  an  earthly, 
but  to  a  heavenly,  inheritance.  See  chap. 
i.,  p.  9.     Dublin,  1859,  i8mo. 

**"  Colgan  maintains,  that  from  the  manner 
in  which  this  account  is  conveyed  in  her 
Third  Life,  by  the  word  '  *  parrochia, "  the 
author  means  a  district  of  ecclesiastical  land, 
dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  according  to  an  old 
custom.  In  Colgan's  time,  there  was  a  parish 
church  consecrated  to  St.  Brigid,  in  the 
diocese  of  Elphin,  within  the  district  of 
Soil-mured-haigh,  and  in  the  province  of 
Connaught.  Formerly  a  monastery  was 
there  endowed  with  ample  possessions. 
The  author,  in  Colgan's  opinion,  must  have 
flourished  at  a  distant  date  ;  for,  he  says, 
that  district  was  large,  that  a  considerable 
tract  of  land  was  attached,  and  that  it 
was  St.  Brigid's  patrimony.  For  many 
ages  before  Colgan's  time,  the  tract  there 
was  of  no  large  extent,  nor  did  it  belong  to 
St.  Brigid's  order.  See  "Trias  Thauma- 
turga,"  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  n.  8,  p. 
543,  ibid.  However,  it  may  still  be  ques- 
tioned, if  Colgan  rightly  indentified  the 
locality,  to  which  allusion  has  been  made. 

^1  These  circumstances  are  also  briefly 
related  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life, 
pp.  7,  8. 

^  These  circumstances  are  related  in  the 
Third  and  Fourth  Lives  of  our  Saint.  See 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita  Tertia 
S.  Brigidae,  cap.  ix.,  p.  528.  Vita  Quarta 
S.  Brigidee,  cap.  xii.,  p.  579.  In  the  latter 
record,  we  find  these  following  additional 
particulars  related:  "Cum  jam  crevisset 
quidem  corpore,  sed  plus  fidespe  et  charitate, 


sancta  puella  fideliter  ministrabat."  Then 
twenty-one  or  twenty-two  chapters  of  the 
latter  life  are  said  to  be  missing.  In  a  note 
we  find  remarked,  that  these  seem  to  have 
been  omitted,  owing  to  the  fault  of  a  scribe. 
But  their  tenor  may  be  gleaned  from  the 
ninth  to  the  thirty-second  chapter  of  the 
preceding  life.     See  ibid,  n.  17,  p.  564. 

^  It  is  stated  to  be  in  Ui  Failge,  or  Offaly, 
in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  pp.  9,  lo. 

9°  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 
Tertia  S.  Brigidas,  cap.  xi.,  p.  528.  In  the 
Fifth  Life  of  our  Saint,  the  same  circum- 
stances apparently  are  somewhat  differently 
related.  After  describing  the  virtues,  which 
characterized  the  holy  maiden,  when  absent 
from  her  paternal  roof,  the  writer  then  pro- 
ceeds to  relate  how  her  father  impulsively 
thanked  God  for  having  sent  him  such  a 
daughter.  While  leaving  her  mother  still  a 
captive,  Brigid  and  her  nurse  were  brought 
to  his  house.  There  his  daughter  was  re- 
ceived with  the  most  affectionate  care.  See 
Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidee,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  570> 
ibid.  See  also  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid," 
by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  14,  15. 

9'  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  he 
is  named  Baethchu,  pp.  9,  10. 

9"  The  account  runs,  that  she  was  enabled 
lo  express  these  words,  as  versified  in  the 
Sixth  Life  : 

"  Qucerite  cervisiam  :    mihi  mcdo  magna 
voluptas." 

Then  follow  these  lines  i 

*'  Brigida  (tunc  fuerat  juvenis  et  pulchm 
puella) 
Mittitur  ad  vicos  quaerendo  quippe  liquo* 
rem, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  43 


it  became  changed  into  an  excellent  description  of  beer.93  When  the  nurse 
tasted  it,  she  recovered  from  her  infirmity.94  This  miracle  is  also  alluded  to 
in  one  of  St.  Brigid's  offices. 

Most  of  those  foregoing  accounts  are  altogether  omitted,  from  narratives 
which  are  considered  to  have  been  the  earliest  and  most  authentic  biogra- 
phies of  our  Saint ;  and  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose  them  altogether 
legendary,  and  undeserving  attention.  Nor  can  we  find  any  valid  reason  to 
question  a  supposition  already  adduced,9s  that  our  Saint's  parents,  besides 
being  of  noble  family,  were  also  Christians,  and  that  St.  Brigid  herself  was 
born  in  lawful  wedlock.  All  her  biographers  seem  agreed,  however,  that 
from  her  earliest  youth,  this  illustrious  maiden  was  remarkable  for  every 
noble  and  virtuous  characteristic,  foreshadowing  the  future  Saint.  To  her 
Christian  nurse  is  attributed  much  of  that  holy  training,  which  during  child- 
hood made  her  a  devout  client  of  Jesus  and  Mary.96  when  this  holy  virgin 
grew  to  the  years  of  discretion,  and  even  from  her  most  tender  youth,  she 
was  distinguished  for  her  extraordinary  virtues  f^  especially,  for  that  grave 
decorum  and  modesty,  which  bestowed  dignity  and  propriety  on  her  every 
word  and  action.  Each  day  she  acquired  some  new  virtue,  or  increased  in 
spiritual  progress.  She  was  early  grounded  in  doctrines  of  the  Christian's 
Faith  j  and  she  must  have  received,  also,  some  secular  education,  corre- 
sponding with  the  rank  of  her  parents.  From  earliest  years  she  was  distin- 
guished for  instances  of  extraordinary  charity,  especially  towards  the  poor. 
An  anecdote  of  her  childhood  is  related.s^  The  youthful  virgin  was  bounti- 
ful and  hospitable  to  such  a  degree,  that  she  frequently  distributed  to  the 
poor  and  to  strangers  large  quantities  of  milk  and  butter,  which  her  mother 
had  committed  to  her  charge.  In  consequence  of  this  generous  propensity, 
she  found  on  a  certain  occasion,  that  her  store  was  completely  exhausted. 
Being  accustomed  each  day  to  superintend  the  labours  of  her  maids  and  of 
her  daughter,  in  various  departments  of  their  industry,  our  Saint's  mother 
was  about  to  make  her  usual  inquiries,  when  fearing  reproof  for  the  improvi- 


Virgo    Dei    properans    una    comitante  account,  and  all  that  follows  in  this  biogra- 

sorore.  phy,  so  far  as  the  35th  chapter,  are  wanting 

Quidam  cervisiam,  quamvis  velabat,  ha-  in  the  Fourth  Life.     See  ibid,  n.  8,  p.  543. 

bebat :  The  circumstances  of  this  miracle  are  related, 

Virginibus  sacris  stultus  donare  negabat."  with  certain  modifications,  in  the  Fifth  and 

Sixth   Lives.     In  the  former,    it  is    said, 

Further  on  this  line  occurs  :  during  her  infirmity,    the    nurse    suffered 

greatly  from   thirst,    and  that    St.    Brigid 

*'  Qui  latices  gelidos  Lyei  convertit  in  un-  signed  the  water  drawn  from  the  well,  with 

das  :"  a  sign  of  the  cross,  while  those,  who  were 

present  and  witnessed  the  miraculous  effect 

to  which  Colgan  appends  this  note,  that  in  the  produced,  admired  and  extolled  our  Saint's 

MS.  for  lyei,  or  more  correctly,  lya:i,  was  to  faith  and  miraculous  powers.      It   is  here 

be  found  cccli(z.      But  because  the  author  said,  likewise,   that  two  girls  accompanied 

seems  to  allude  to  the  change  by  Christ  of  the  Saint,  when  she  proceeded  on  her  er- 

water  into  wine  at  Cana  in  Galilee,   lycni  rand.     In  the  Sixth  Life,  it  is  stated,  that 

appears  to  be  the  correct  reading.  See  "Trias  the  nurse  had  been  seized  with  a  burning 

Thaumaturga,"    Vita  Quinta   S.    Brigidse,  fever,  so  that  she  could  scarcely  articulate 

cap.  xvi.,  p.  571  ;  and  Sexta  Vita  S.  Bri-  owing  to  thirst, 

gidae,  sec.  iii,,  p.  583,  and  n.  8,  p.  598,  ibid.  9S  Especially  by  Dr.  Lanigan. 

93  The  kind  of  beer  alluded  to  was  mead,  56  gee  "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

as  expressed  in  the  metrical  life.     It  appears  Irish  Priest,  chap,  i.,  pp.  10  to  13. 

to  have  been  a  favourite  drink  among  the  '^^  See  the  various  published  Offices  and 

ancient  Irish  ;  and,  most  likely,  it  was  little  accounts  of  our  Saint,  by  different  writers. 

— if  at  all — impregnated  with  intoxicating  ^s  By  Cogitosus.    In  Professor  O'Looney's 

properties.  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  this  account  is  am- 

9-*  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita  plified,  and  St.  Brigid's  prayer  is  rendered 

Tertia  S.  Brigidfe,  cap.  xii,,  p.  528.      Such  into  three  Irish  stanzas,  pp.  il  to  14, 


44 


LIVES  OF  THE  imSff  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


dcnce  admitted  into  household  concerns,  Brigid  betook  herself  to  prayer. 
The  Almighty  graciously  heard  her  petitions,  and  miraculously  increased  the 
exhausted  store  of  butter.99  When  this  remarkable  circumstance  became 
known  to  the  handmaids,  these  admired  the  girFs  wonderful  trust  in  Divine 
Providence,  and  then  gave  praise  to  God,  who  rewarded  her  Faith,  Hope 
and  Charity,  by  the  performance  of  this  miracle  in  her  behalf. ^°° 

At  another  time,  it  is  related,  while  engaged  in  providing  food  for  some 
noble  guests, '°'  she  was  so  much  moved  with  the  whining  and  eager  gestures 
of  a  dog,  that  she  gave  him  a  great  portion  of  the  bacon  she  had  been  cook- 
ing, and,  afterwards,  she  found  more  than  a  sufficiency  remaining,  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  strangers. ^°'*  These  anecdotes  serve  to  impress  us  most 
agreeably,  with  the  natural  kindliness  and  generosity  of  her  youthful 
disposition. 

It  appears  quite  probable,  that  in  her  youth,  the  pious  maiden  must  have 
been  known,  to  the  great  Irish  Apostle  Patrick.  For,  it  is  related,  in  the 
Tripartite  Life  of  this  latter  Saint,  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  when  preaching 


99  This  account  is  also  given  in  various 
Offices  and  other  narratives,  regarding  our 
Saint.  See  likewise  "The  Life  of  St. 
Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp. 
17,  18. 

^°°  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  ii,,  p.  519. 
Capgrave  relates  this  miracle,  as  occurring 
at  the  house  of  the  Magus.  "  Legenda 
Sanctorum  Anglise,  ScotijB  et  Hibernice," 
Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  2.  In  the  Third  Life 
of  St.  Brigid,  the  account  given  regarding 
this  miracle  is  substantially  as  follows. 
After  stating  some  circumstances,  that  took 
place  after  our  Saint  had  been  sent  back  to 
her  father,  we  are  told,  that  she  again  re- 
turned to  visit  her  mother,  who  remained 
with  her  master,  the  Magus  ;'  although  she 
lived  in  a  separate  house,  from  that  in  which 
he  dwelt.  The  Saint's  mother  had  the 
charge  of  twelve  cows  ;  the  butter  produced 
from  which,  she  was  obliged  to  collect. 
But,  when  St.  Brigid  arrived  on  this  visit  to 
her  mother,  the  virgin  was  accustomed  to 
distribute  butter  each  day  to  the  poor  and 
to  the  guests  ;  in  doing  which,  she  divided 
it  into  twelve  parts,  in  honour  of  the  twelve 
Apostles.  She  made  one  portion  greater 
than  the  remaining  parts,  in  honour  of  our 
Saviour,  while  remarking,  she  saw  the  per- 
son of  Christ  in  that  of  every  guest.  One 
day,  the  Magus  and  his  wife  brought  a  large 
measure  to  her,  that  it  might  be  hlled  with 
butter.  On  seeing  this  vessel,  the  ready 
flush  of  her  checks  betrayed  a  certain  dis- 
turbance of  her  mind  ;  for  she  had  only  the 
butter  of  one  day  and  a  half  day  then  col- 
lected. Visitors  having  entered  the  house, 
the  virgin  joyously  began  to  exercise  claims 
of  hospitality  towards  them,  and  to  prepare 
for  their  refection.  She  then  retired  to  a 
private  part  of  this  house,  where  she  poured 
forth  her  prayers  to  God.  Afterwards,  she 
produced  the  small  quantity  of  butter  then 
in  her  possession.      But,  the  wife  of  the 


Magus,  on  seeing  it,  contemptuously  taunted 
her  on  its  smallness.  The  Saint  replied, 
however,  that  there  should  be  suflficient  to 
fill  a  large  vessel.  Through  the  interposi- 
tion of  Divine  Providence,  her  prediction 
was  fulfilled.  When  the  Magus  witnessed 
this  miracle,  he  told  St.  Brigid,  that  the 
vessel  thus  miraculously  filled  should  belong 
to  her,  and  likewise  those  twelve  cows  given 
in  charge  to  her  mother.  Still  the  Saint 
declined  receiving  such  gifts,  asking  instead 
of  them  her  mother's  freedom.  The  Magus 
then  said ;  "  Lo,  I  offer  you  your  mother's 
liberty,  as  well  as  the  gifts  of  this  butter 
and  those  cows."  We  are  told,  that  the 
Magus  then  believed  and  was  baptized,  and 
that  St.  Brigid,  bestowing  her  gifts  on  the 
poor,  returned  with  her  mother  towards  her 
father's  home.  See  Colgan's  ' '  Trias  Thau- 
maturga," Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xv., 
p.  528.  Similar  circumstances,  for  the  most 
part,  are  mentioned  in  the  Fifth  Life  of  our 
Saint,  with  the  usual  amplifications.  It  is 
there  reported,  likewise,  that  she  paid  a 
visit  to  her  mother,  already  alluded  to,  in 
company  with  her  nurse  and  a  brother. 
See  "  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidoe,"  cap.  xviii., 
xix.,  XX.,  xxi.,  pp.  571,  572,  ibid. 

'°'  These  circumstances  are  alluded  to  in 
the  First,  Second  and  Third  Lives  of  the 
saint.  See  Colgan's  ' '  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  14,  p.  516. 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidx,  cap.  iv.,  p.  519. 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  528. 
In  the  Fifth  Life  nearly  the  same  account  is 
given,  with  the  addition  of  some  immaterial 
particulars.  See  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigido), 
cap.  xvii.,  p.  571,  ibid.  All  accounts  agree, 
that  these  occurrences  took  place  at  her 
father's  house. 

'°*  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  it  is  said  the  guests,  who  wit- 
nessed this  miracle,  would  not  eat  the  food 
thus  increased,  but  it  was  distributed  to  the 
poor  and  destitute,  pp.  9  to  12. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  45 

to  a  vast  multitude  of  persons,  Bridget  formed  one  of  the  number.     Then  she 
is  said  to  have  been  illustrious  for  her  gifts  of  prophecy  and  miracles.     The 
place,  where  St.  Patrick  is  said  to  have  preached  on  this  occasion,  we  find 
called,  the  territory  of  Lemania.     It  was  a  rural  district  of  Tyrone,  in  the 
diocese  of  Clogher,  and  commonly  called  Magh-lemna,  otherwise  Clossach. 
It  is  said,  that  St.  Patrick  stood  on  a  hill,  called  Finn-abhuir.     We  are  told, 
likewise,  that  the  Irish  Apostle  preached  here  with  great  fervour  for  a  dura-  . 
tion  of  three  days  and  three  nights,  while  the  people  were  so  enraptured  \ 
with  his  discourse,  they  did  not  think  a  single  day  had  elapsed,  pending  this  \ 
long  interval. '°3     While  listening  to  him,  she  was  transported  into  such  an  \    V. 
ecstacy,  that  the  people  thought  she  had  fallen  asleep.     During  this  time,   \  ■T 
Brigid  had  a  vision,  regarding  that  present,  and  a  future  state  of  the  Irish    \ 
Church.     Then  on  awaking,  St.  Patrick  desired  her  to  relate  what  she  had    \ 
seen.     She  told  him,  at  first,  that  she  had  seen  a  herd  of  white  oxen  amid 
white  crops ;  then,   she  beheld  spotted  animals  of  different  colours  ;  and 
after  these  appeared  black  and  darkly-coloured  cattle.     Afterwards  sheep 
and  swine  were  seen ;  lastly  dogs  and  wolves  worrying  each  other.  ^°+    Yet 
while  Brigid  seemed  to  sleep,  St.  Patrick  would  not  allow  the  congregation 
to  awaken  her,  until  she  came  to  a  state  of  consciousness  of  her  own  accord. 
The  Irish  Apostle  afterwards  told  the  people,  that  her  vision  referred  to  that 
present  and  to  a  future  state  of  the  Church  in  Ireland.  ^°s 

In  his  Fourth^°'^  and  Sixth^°7  Lives,  it  is  related,  that  St.  Brigid  wove  a 
shroud  to  cover  the  remains  of  St.  Patrick,  after  his  death.  Dr.  Lanigan 
calculates,  that  the  Irish  Apostle  did  not  live  nearly  so  late  as  a.d.  493,^°^ 
when  St.  Brigid's  reputation  was  spread  far  and  wide.^°9  At  the  time  of  his 
decease,  the  holy  virgin  is  thought  to  have  been  a  mere  child.  Besides  the 
earlier  writers  of  St.  Patrick's  Acts  have  no  mention  of  St.  Brigid  having 
woven  the  shroud.  With  special  minuteness,  Fiach's  hymn,  the  Scholiast, 
Probus,  the  Tripartite,  and  the  third  Life  give  an  account  of  the  last  days  of 
St.  Patrick,  his  death  and  obsequies.  They  specify  the  name  of  that  bishop 
who  attended  him,  although  otherwise  he  was  scarcely  known.  Strange, 
indeed,  would  be  their  omitting  to  mention  so  celebrated  a  saint  as  Brigid 
had  she  attended  with  the  shroud  at  his  exit.  If  those  circumstances, 
reported  by  later  writers  concerning  her  transactions  with  St.  Patrick,  had 
really  occurred,  it  is  impossible  they  could  have  been  overlooked  by  those 
authors,  who  lived  nearer  to  their  occurrence.  Perhaps  Brigid  wove  a  pall  or 
some  sepulchral  ornament  to  be  spread  over  his  grave,  and  hence  might  have 
arisen  the  idea,  that  she  had  done  so  during  his  lifetime."^  Such  a  circum- 
stance might  easily  give  origin  to  the  rumour  of  her  having  assisted  at  St. 
Patrick's  obsequies.     People  about  Dundalk,  however,  have  a  tradition,  that 


'°3  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  chap,  iii.,  p.  31. 

Jocelyn's  or  Sexta  Vita   S.  Patricii,    cap.  *°9  In  her  exertions  for  forming  congrega* 

Xciv.,  xcv.,  pp.  86,  87.  tions  of  holy  virgins  and  establishments  for 

^°'*  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  them — which  coincided   so  well  with  the 

Septima  Vita  S.  Patricii,  lib.  iii.,  cap.  iv.,  views  of  our  Apostle — she  would  and  should 

pp.  149,  150,  and  n.  11,  p.  184.  have  acted  under  his  guidance,    were  he 

'°s  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  alive.     Accordingly  there  must  have  been 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  31  to  33.  frequent    communications    between    them, 

'"*  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  concerning  which  the  ancient  writers  could 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  xciii.,  p.  47.  not  have  been  totally  silent.      See   "  Eccle- 

^°7  StQ  Ibid.     Sexta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap.  siastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap* 

clxxxviii.,  clxxxix.,  p.  107.  viii.j  sec.  ii*,  n.  29,  pp.  384,  385. 

108  jn   "The  Life  of  St.- Brigid,"  by  an  "°  See    Dr.    Lanigan's     "Ecclesiastical 

Irish  Priest,   the  author  seems  inclined  to  History  of  Ireland,"  vol*  i.,  cap.  viii.,  sec, 

adopt  this  date  for  St.  Patrick's  death.    See  ii.,  n.  29,  p.  384. 


46  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


St.  Brigid  lived  in  the  year  432,  when  St.  Patrick  first  preached  in  Ireland, 
and  that  she  survived  him  thirty  years."'  As  St.  Brigid  approached  the 
years  of  puberty,  her  parents  thought  of  procuring  her  a  partner  for  life;  and 
they  wished  to  espouse  her  to  a  husband  of  their  own  selection.  But,  this 
holy  virgin  had  long  before  resolved,  on  consecrating  herself  to  the  service 
of  God,  to  whom  she  had  already  devoted  herself,  by  those  chaste  disposi- 
tions of  soul,  and  by  those  ardent  inspirations  of  piety,  which  so  much 
distinguished  her  childhood.  To  her  declarations  thus  made,  it  would  appear, 
that  her  parents  interposed  no  serious  objections.  She  was  in  the  bloom  of 
maidenhood,  when  she  resolved  on  entering  the  religious  state.  An  opinion 
has  been  advanced,  that  she  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  at  the  time  of 
making  her  vows  ;"^  but  one  better  weighed  may  be  more  deserving  our 
regard,  that  she  was  not  a  consecrated  virgin,  during  the  life-time  of  St. 
Patrick,  and  that  she  must  at  least  have  attained  the  sixteenth  year  of  her 
age,  to  have  been  canonically  eligible  for  this  state.  "3 

Before  we  arrive  at  this  event  in  her  life,  there  are  other  circumstances 
mentioned,  regarding  the  holy  virgin,  in  what  are  considered  to  be  among 
the  most  questionable  of  her  recorded  acts.  It  may  not  be  irrelevant,  how- 
ever, to  introduce  them.  While  at  her  father's  house,  and  before  she  returned 
to  see  her  captive  mother,  it  is  related,  that  a  certain  religious  widow,"'^  who 
lived  in  an  adjoining  village,  asked  our  Saint's  father  to  allow  her  Brigid's 
companionship  to  a  Synod,"5  then  held  in  the  plain  of  the  Liffy.""^  To  this 
request  her  father  assented ;  and  while  both  proceeded  on  their  way,  a  cer- 
tain holy  man,"7  who  was  present  at  the  Synod,"^  slept.  He  had  a  vision, 
at  the  same  time.  On  awaking  from  sleep,  he  said ;  "  I  have  beheld  Mary, 
and  a  certain  man  standing  with  her,  who  said  to  me,  *  This  is  holy  Mary, 
who  dwells  amongst  you.'  ""9  When  the  venerable  man  had  mentioned  this  in 
the  Synod,  St.  Brigid  and  her  companion  arrived.  Then  the  same  holy  man 
cried  out ;  "  This  is  the  Mary,  whom  I  have  seen,  for  I  know  with  certainty 
her  appearance."  All,  who  were  present,  rendered  their  acknowledgment 
to  St.  Brigid, "°  beholding  in  her  a  type  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary."' 


XII 


See  "  Louth  Letters  containing  Infor-  "^  In  an  Irish  Life,  it  is  called  a  Synod 

mation  relative  to   the  Antiquities   of  the  of  the  Leinster  Seniors. 

County,  collected  during  the  Progress  of  the  "»  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

Ordnance  Survey  in  1835-1836,"  vol.  i.,  p.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  p.  16. 

287.     Letter  of  Messrs.  P.  O'Keefe  and  T.  "°  This  is  somewhat  differently  related  in 

O'Conor,   dated  Dundalk,    February   iSth,  an   Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  xii.,  as 

1836.  quoted  by  Colgan.     See   "Trias  Thauma- 

*"  Such  is  Ussher's  statement,  founded  on  turga. "    Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Bri- 

the  questionable  authority  of  Hector  Boece.  gidae,  cap.  xii.,  p.  622. 

"3  This  is  Dr.  Lanigan's  conclusion.  '"  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
**  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xiv.,  p.  528. 
Priest,  states,  that  about  her  sixteenth  or  In  n.  9,  p.  543,  ibid,  with  the  usual  typo- 
seventeenth  year  was  that  of  her  profession,  graphical  errors  of  his  works,  we  are  referred 
the  date  being  «mV<?r  469.  See  chap,  iii.,  by  Colgan  to  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  St. 
p.  28.  Brigid's   Irish   Life,  where  the  holy  man 

"*  In  an  Irish  Life  of  St.   Brigid,   this  alluded  to  is  St.  Iber,  bishop  ;  and  for  the 

woman  is  called  a  Virgin.      In   Professor  eulogy  pronounced  on  her,  whereby  she  re- 

O'Looney's  Irish  Life  she  is  simply  desig-  ceives  as  a  title   "the  other  Mary  of  the 

nated  "a  religious  woman,"  pp.  ii,  12.  Irish,"  we  are  to  examine,  not  the  Third, 

"5  An  Irish  Life,    quoted    by    Colgan,  but  the  Twelfth    chapter,    in  his   Fourth 

states,  at  cap.  xii.,  that  this  Synod  was  held  Appendix  to  our  Saint's  Acts.     There  we 

at  the  spot,  afterwards  known  as  Kildare.  have  a  different  version  of  the  story,  related 

"^  Called     Magh    Liphe    in     Professor  in  the  text,  and  regarding  the  consideration 

O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  pp.  11,  12.  in  which  our  Saint  had  been  held  by  the 

"7  The  Irish  Life  calls  him  Hibar  or  Ibar.  ancient   Irish,     These   called  her    another 

In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  his  name  Mother  of  God,  or  another  Mary, 
is  written  ibAip,  pp.  1 1,  12. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  47 


Thenceforth,  this  holy  virgin  was  called  "  the  Mary  of  the  Gaedhels."""  The 
learned  Dr.  Todd  observes,  commenting  on  this  title :  Here  when  it  is  said 
that  Brigid  was  "  in  the  type  of  Mary,"  the  meaning,  perhaps,  may  be,  that 
she  resembled  in  form  and  figure  the  person  of  the  Blessed  Virgin ;  not  that 
she  was  actually  the  Blessed  Virgin,  reappearing  upon  earth,  but  that,  from 
the  close  resemblance  of  her  features  to  those  of  Mary,  and  from  her  having 
been  seen  in  the  vision  as  Mary,  and  called  by  the  Angel  as  "  Holy  Mary, 
that  dwells  amongst  you,"  she  was  saluted  by  the  assembled  Synod  as  Mary, 
and  was  thenceforth  regarded  as  "  the  Mary  of  the  Irish/'"3  Other  pane- 
gyrists call  St.  Brigid,  the  "  Mother  of  Christ,"  "  The  Mother  of  my  Lord,"  &c., 
thus  bestowing  upon  her  attributes,  belonging  especially  to  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary."*  St.  Columkille,  it  is  stated,  composed  a  certain  Hymn  in  praise 
of  St.  Brigid. "5  This  was  a  short  metrical  Irish  composition,  which  has 
been  rendered  in  a  Latin  version  by  Colgan,"^  and  there  St.  Brigid  is  called 
"The  Mother  of  Christ.""^  In  the  panegyrical  poem  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen,"^ 
which  Colgan  has  printed,  the  same  exalted  praise  is  bestowed  upon  St. 
Brigid.  Dr.  Todd  takes  quotations  from  the  original  Irish,  as  Colgan's 
printed  text  is  full  of  typographical  errors.  Omitting  the  Irish  extracts, 
these  following  passages  are  submitted  :"9 

"  Brigit,  mother  of  my  Lord, 
Of  heaven,  a  sovereign  the  best  bom." 

On  these  passages,  the  learned  commentator  remarks,  that  Brigid  is  strangely 
spoken  of,  not  as  resembling  the  Virgin  Mary  in  feature,  or  even  in  purity 
and  sanctity,  but  as  partaking  wiih  her,  in  some  mystical  sense,  of  the  prero- 
gative of  being  Mother  of  Jesus,  "  Mother  of  my  Lord  of  heaven."  Never- 
theless, it  is  certain,  that  the  idea  of  a  reappearance  of  Mary,  in  the  person 
of  St.  Brigid,  which  should  make  them  one  and  the  same  person,  was  not  in 
the  minds  of  those  writers,  notwithstanding  the  extravagance  of  their  lan- 
guage. ^3°    Yet,  it  is  clear,  that  Mary  and  Brigid  are  spoken  of  as  two  distinct 


**'  According    to    Professor    O'Looney's  have  been  the  author.     The  SchoHast  also 

Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  1 1,  12.  adds,  "  or  it  was  Ultan  of  Ardbreecan  who 

^"3  Seethe  "Liber Hymnorum," Fasciculus  made  this  Hymn." 

I.     Edited  with  notes,  by  Dr.  James  Hen-  "^  In  one  of  these  lines,  St.   Brigid  is 

thorn  Todd.     Note  B,  pp.  65,  66,  and  nn.  alluded  to  thus — 

(f.g.)  ibid.    There  we  find  a  like  account,  "  Haec  Christi  mater." 

under  the  heading,    **  St.  Brigid,  the  Mary  "7  There  is  still  some  undefined  beUef — 

of  the  Irish."  notwithstanding  the    chronological  discre- 

"'^  In  the  Third  Life  the  language  is  :  pancy — among  the  Irish  people,  that  St. 
"Hsec  est  Maria  (without  the  explanatory  Brigid  was  a  sister  of  our  Blessed  Lady.  A 
altera)  quae  habitat  inter  vos ;"  and  these  legend  prevails,  that  St.  Brigid  advanced 
are  there  given,  as  the  words,  not  of  the  before  the  Mother  of  our  Lord  to  the  tem- 
saint  who  saw  the  vision,  but  of  the  Angel  pie,  and  by  an  ostentatious  exhibition,  or 
seen  in  the  vision,  who  stood  with  the  Vir-  "praisga,"  of  herself,  carrying  lighted  can- 
gin  Mary,  and  said,  not  of  St.  Brigid,  but  dies  on  her  head,  she  wished  to  divert  at- 
of  the  B.  V.  Mary  herself,  "  Hsec  est  Maria  tention  from  the  modest  Mother- Virgin, 
quse  habitat  inter  vos,"  thus  strangely  con-  Although  the  day  was  stormy,  none  of  the 
founding  the  person  of  Mary  and  Brigid.  candles  were  extinguished.  Hence,  our 
It  will  be  observed,  however,  that  this  ex-  Blessed  Lady  enjoined  St.  Brigid's  feast  to 
travagance  is  avoided  in  the  Office  printed  be  celebrated  before  that  of  the  Purification, 
in  1622.  See  "  Liber  Hymnorum,"  Note  This  account  was  furnished  to  the  writer  by 
B,  n,  (n.),  pp.  68,  69.  Rev.  David  B.  Mulcahy,  C.C.,  Loughguile, 

"5  A  portion  of  the  original  Irish  of  this  Co.  Antrim,  in  a  letter,  dated  April  26th, 

Hymn,  with  an  English  translation,  is  given  1875. 

by  Dr.  Todd,  in  the  work  already  quoted  :  ^^^  His  composition  is  also  foimd  in  the 

and  it  is    taken    from    the    MS.     "Liber  "Liber  Hymnorum,"  p.  33. 

Hymnorum,"  p.  32.     In  the  preface,   it  is  "'  As  translated  by  Dr.  Todd, 

said,  that  St.  Columkille  is  supposed  to  *3o  gt.  Brogan  Cloen  afterwards  says  — 


4S 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


beings,  and  the  notion  of  reappearance  of  the  former  in  the  person  of  the 
latter  is  exckided.'^i  Our  Lord  has  said,  that  whosoever  shall  do  the  will 
of  God,  the  same  is  his  brother,  and  sister  and  mother,''^''  and  this  perhaps 
may  be  all  that  is  meant  by  St.  Brigid's  pledging  herself  to  be  the  Mother  of 
Christ,  and  making  herself  so  by  words  and  deeds.  According  to  another 
explanation,  she  who  by  continual  elevation  of  mind,  and  fixed  intention, 
keeps  her  thoughts  ever  upon  Christ,  may  be  said  to  travail  with  Christ,  and 
figuratively  to  be  the  mother  of  Christ,  and  so  to  be,  as  it  were,  another 
Mary. ^33  Colgan  has  interpreted  this  prerogative  of  St.  Brigid  to  be  "the 
Mary  of  the  Irish,"  because  of  the  honour  and  veneration  our  people  enter- 
tained for  her  over  every  other  Saint — the  Blessed  Virgin  only  excepted — 
and  because  of  her  having  had  some  similar  kind  of  religious  deference  in 
comparison  with  the  Holy  Mother  of  God. '34 

The  account  of  that  supposed  Synod,  at  Kildare — but  in  a  somewhat 
modified  form — is  retained  in  an  Office  of  St.  Brigid,  which  has  been  printed 
in  Paris. '35  This  Office,  containing  some  minor  variations,  is  also  to  be 
found  with  full  musical  notation,  in  the  Antiphonary  of  Clondalkin,  a  MS.  of 
the  fourteenth  century. '3^     It  has  also  been  reprinted  by  Colgan,  and  has 


•'  The  veiled  Virgin  who  drives  over  the 
Currech 
Is  a  shield  against  sharp  weapons  ; 
None  was  found  her  equal,  except  Mary, 
Let  us  put  our  trust  in  my  strength." 

In  the  last  line  there  is  a  play  upon  the 
name  of  St.  Brigid,  and  the  Irish  word 
Btigiy  "strength."    And  again: — 

**  Every  one  that  hears  ;  every  one  that  re- 
peats [this  poem], 
The  blessing  of  Brigid  be  on  him  ; 
The  blessing  of  Brigid  and  of  God 
Be  upon  them  that  recite  it  together. 

*'  There  are  two  Virgins  in  heaven, 
"Who  will  not  give  me  a  forgetful  protec- 
tion, 
Mary  and  St.  Brigid, 
Under  the  protection  of  them  both  may 
we  remain." 

*3*  To  passages  taken  from  this  Irish 
Hymn  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen,  Dr.  Todd  ap- 
pends the  following  notes.  The  Currech — 
i.e.,  the  Curragh  of  Kildare.  The  Scholiast 
in  a  gloss  on  this  word  says,  "  cup|\ech  a 
cursu  equorum  dictus  est  j"  a  curious  proof 
of  the  antiquity  of  its  use  as  a  race-course  : 
to  which,  perhaps,  some  allusion  may  be 
intended  in  the  description  of  St.  Brigid,  as 
"the  Nun  (or  veiled  Virgin)  who  drives 
oyer  the  Currech."  And  again  :  Two  Vir- 
gins.— The  word  cAiLlech,  here  used,  sig- 
nifies a  veiled  or  consecrated  virgin,  a  nun, 
derived  probably  from  the  Latin  cucullus.''^ 
The  learned  editor  of  the  "Liber  Hymno- 
rum"  thus  continues  his  remarks:  "The 
words  of  the  supposed  stanza  of  the  Hymn 
in  the  text  (taking  the  corrected  reading  of 
autumata  for  aut  amata)  are  also  remark- 
able :  Christi  matretn  se  spopondit ;  '  She 


promised  or  pledged  herself  to  be  Christ's 
mother,'  and  made  herself  so  by  words  or 
deeds,  Brigid,  who  is  esteemed  the  Queen 
of  the  true  God."  The  Hymn  itself,  how- 
ever (v.  8),  is  content  with  the  statement 
that  she  was  a  virgin  like  to  Holy  Mary, 
"  Marise  SanctK  similem." 

^32  St.  Matt.  xii.  50. 

^33  This  seems  to  be  the  idea,  presented 
to  the  mind  of  the  author,  supposed  to  have 
been  St.  Ultan  :  "Christi  matrem  se  spo- 
pondit, dictis  atque  factis  fecit." 

^34  Dr.  Todd  here  remarks  :  *  *  This  is 
certainly  softening  the  matter  as  much  as 
possible,  seeing  that  the  ancient  authorities 
place  her  on  an  equality  with  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  giving  to  her  also  the  seemingly  in- 
communicable title  of  Dei  Genetrix,  and  the 
still  more  unusual  one  of  '  Queen  of  the  true 
God.'  And,  moreover,  they  state  expressly 
that  she  was  called  the  Mary  of  the  Irish, 
and  was  recognised  as  such  by  an  assembled 
Synod,  in  consequence  of  her  personal 
resemblance  to  the  B.  Virgin  Mary,  whilst 
still  a  child,  and  therefore  before  she  was 
known  to  the  Irish  people,  or  could  have 
received  any  honour  or  veneration  from 
them."  We  are  then  referred  by  Dr.  Todd 
to  some  learned  and  curious  remarks  on  this 
subject  in  Mr.  Herbert's  Cyclops  Christianus, 
p.  113,  seq,,  p.  137,  p.  141-2.  See  the 
"  Liber  Hymnorum,"  Note  B,  pp.  65  to  68, 
and  nn.  (f,g,h,i,j,k,l,)  ibid.  Also  Colgan's 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Appendix  Secunda 
ad  Acta  S.  Brigidoe,  sec.  xxiii.,  p.  606,  and 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
xii.,  p.  622,  ibid. 

'35  A.  D.  1622.  Noct.  ii.,  Lect.  v.,  Colgan's 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  p.  600. 

'36  This  latter  is  preserved  in  the  Library 
of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  It  is  classed  in 
a  Catalogue  of  "MSS.  there  preserved,  B, 
L3. 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  49 


been  republished  by  him,  in  common  with  various  lessons  and  prayers, 
relating  to  our  Saint,  as  found  in  other  Breviaries. '37  In  the  same  Office, 
there  is  a  Hymn  at  Lauds,  the  two  first  stanzas  of  which  evidently  paraphrase 
the  verses  commencing  with  "  Christus  in  nostra  insula. "'38  The  Irish  Life 
of  Brigid'39  relates,  that  after  returning  from  the  Synod,  she  went  to  visit  her 
mother  who  was  in  bondage. 

Some  great  characteristics  of  our  holy  virgin  are  thus  alluded  to  in  an 
ancient  biography.  "  It  was  her  anxious  care  to  comfort  the  poor,  to  banish 
all  distress,  to  relieve  all  wretchedness  :  there  was  no  one  more  modest,  more 
righteous,  more  humble,  or  more  chaste ;  she  never  looked  in  the  face  of 
man  \  she  was  abstinent,  she  was  spotless,  she  was  prayerful,  she  was  patient, 
she  was  joyful  in  the  commandments  of  God.  She  was  a  consecrated  shrine 
to  receive  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Christ :  she  was  the  temple  of  God  :  her 
heart  and  her  mind  were  an  abiding  throne  for  the  Holy  Ghost.  She  was 
bright  in  miracles  ;  her  type  among  creatures  is  the  dove  among  birds,  the 
vine  among  trees,  the  sun  amidst  the  stars.  It  is  she  that  reHeves  all  who 
are  in  distress  and  danger ;  it  is  she  that  subdues  disease.  It  is  she  that 
restrains  the  angry  fury  of  the  sea.  She  is  the  Mary  of  Ireland.^'^o  This  is 
not  the  sole  highly-coloured  panegyric  found  in  our  ancient  literature.  A 
very  old  book  of  vellum,  in  which  is  found  the  Martyrology  of  Maelruain  of 
Tallagh,  and  also  the  saints  bearing  the  same  name,'^^  with  the  names  of 
many  mothers  of  the  saints,  states,  that  Brighit  was  following  the  manners 
and  the  life,  which  the  holy  Mary,  Mother  of  Jesus,  had  practised. '^^  Such 
was  her  aptitude  for  devotional  feeling,  that  she  possessed  every  virtue  which 
could  adorn  a  child  of  Mary,  or  which  could  endear  her  to  those  who  were 
around  her. '43 


CHAPTER    III. 

STATEMENT  REGARDING  ST.  BRIGID's  PARENTS—HER  PERSONAL  AND  MENTAL  ATTRAC- 
TIONS DURING  HER  EARLY  YOUTH — ALLEGED  TREATMENT  BY  HER  PARENTS — HER 
GREAT  CHARITY  TOWARDS  THE  POOR — BROUGHT  BEFORE  DUNLAING,  KING  OF 
LEINSTER — HIS  ADMIRATION  OF  HER  VIRTUES — HER  RESOLUTION  TO  EMBRACE  A 
RELIGIOUS  LIFE— A  SUITOR  PROPOSES  MARRIAGE  WITH  ASSENT  OF  HER  FAMILY — 
SHE  REJECTS  THIS  OFFER— HER  RELIGIOUS  PROFESSION,  AND  OPINIONS  ADVANCED 
RELATIVE  TO  IT — PROBABLE  TIME  AND  PLACE — ESTABLISHMENT  OF  ST.  BRIGID's 
FIRST  RELIGIOUS  HOUSE— SHE  SELECTS  THE  BEATITUDE  OF  MERCY  FOR  HER  SPECIAL 
PRACTICE— HER  MIRACLES. 

A  SINGULAR  Statement  has  been  made,^  that  the  parents  of  Brigid  ruled  over 

'37  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Appendix  Qui  per  beatam  Brigidam 

Prima  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,   pp.  599  to  602.  Decoravit  Hiberniam, 

In  this  Office,  the  following  is  a  portion  of  Vitam  dans  ejus  lucidam. 
the  Fifth  Lesson  :  "  Religiosa  qusedam  fae- 

mina  postulavit  a  patre  suo,  ut  S.  Brigidce  "  Haec  speculum  munditise, 

secum  exiret  ad  synodum  quae  collecta  erat  Quae  mundo  late  clamit, 

in   Carnpo   Liffaei,  et  a  pater  permittitur.  Hsec  rosa  temperantise 

Tunc  vir  quidem  sanctus  in  synodo  dormiens  Cujus  virtus  non  languit." 

vidit  visionem  et  surgens  ait.     Haec  altera  '39  professor  O'Looney's  Copy,  pp.  ii,  12. 

Maria,    quae  habitat  inter  nos.      Respons.  ^■♦o  prom    "Life   of  St.   Brigid,"   in  the 

Virgo  deportatur,  honor  ei  amplius  cumula-  "  Leabhar  Breac,"  and  "  Book  of  Lismore." 

tur  :  Synodus  instabat,  nova   Brigida  Stella  '^i  By  some  called  Homonymi. 

micabat.     Sacra cohors plaudit,  quia  signum  ^^^a  See  "The  Martyrology  of  Donegal," 

caelitus  audit.      Vers.  Presbyter  banc  aliam  edited  by  Rev.   Dr.   Todd  and  Rev.  Dr. 

denunciat    esse    Mariam.       Sacra    cohors  Reeves,  pp.  34,  35. 

plaudit."— /fo'^/,  p.  600.  M3  See   "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

'38  These  stanzas  are  as  follows  :—  Irish  Priest,  chap,  i.,  p.  13. 

"  Christo  canamus  gloriam.  Chapter  hi. — '  By  Camerarius. 

Vol.  II.  E 


50  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


the  Orkney  islands,^  and  had  their  residence  in  the  province  Cathensia3  in 
Scotia.     Under  King  Congall/  they  helped  to  prevent  Hengist   and   the 
Saxonss  taking  possession  of  those  islands,  according  to  the  same  ill-instructed 
ecclesiastical  historian.^      Several  particulars,   regarding   our   Saint's  early 
youth,  are  supplied  by  Laurence  of  Durham,  but,  these  are  wanting  in  her 
other  Acts.     It  is  not  easy  to  pronounce,  whether  some  of  those  accounts 
are  furnished  by  his  own  fertile  imagination,   or  from  authors,  who  ^vrote 
before  his  time.     In  various  instances,  however,  they  present  a  pleasing 
picture  of  virtues,   that  early  adorned  our  Saint.     We  are  told,  as  Brigid 
grew  in  age,  she  increased  also  in  grace.     Her  natural  endowments  were 
likewise  remarkable.     She  received  an  excellent  education.     To  her,  the 
Almighty  granted  personal  gifts,  which  to  others  are  often  the  occasion  of 
danger,  in  a  spiritual  sense.     Whilst  a  mere  child,  her  countenance  was 
radiant  with  smiles,  but  her  looks  were  truly  angelic.     These  even  betokened 
her  future  exalted  sanctity.     Her  figure  was  moulded  with  a  peculiar  grace- 
fulness, while  her  natural  intelligence  caused  the  pagan  master  of  her  mother 
— for  we  are  still  left  in  the  mirage  of  legend — to  furnish  his  bond-woman's 
daughter  opportunities  for  acquiring  some  special  culture.     Each  day  added 
effulgence  of  beauty  to  Brigid's  mental  faculties,  and  to  her  natural  bodily 
endowments ;  while,  owing  to  her  individual  merits,  a  blessing  seemed  to  fall 
on  the  Magus  himself,  who  began  to  grow  rich  in  possession  of  this  world's 
goods.     From  the  very  period  of  our  Saint's  infancy,  it  was  surprising  to  find, 
that  she  exhibited  little  youthful  levity.     Her  thoughts  and  actions  were 
characterized  by  sound  discretion,  and  while  her  lovely  features  beamed 
with  a  matronly  reserve,  she  abhorred  the  follies  of  old  dotards,  as  much  as 
she  did  the  amusements  of  young  persons.     All  admired  her  justly-regulated 
mind,  her  propriety  of  speech,  her  dislike  of  merely  terrestrial  and  transitory 
things,   and   her   perseverance   in   holy   practices.      Worldly-minded   men 
■wondered,  that  she  avoided  all  companionship  with  them,  and  women  of  light 
character  could  not  but  feel  mortified,  when  the  holy  virgin  regarded  them 
with  horror ;  while  those  pious  females,  who  devoted  themselves  sincerely  to 
God's  service,  felt  rejoiced,  when  our  Saint  sought  their  company  and  con- 


^  These  are  twenty-eight  in  number,  and  Dr.  J.  F.  S.  Gordon,  we  find  no  such  name, 
they  lie  directly  north  from  Caithness.  See  "  Scotichronicon,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  5,  6. 
They  are  partly  in  the  Northern  and  partly  s  Plengist  invaded  Britain  in  449.  See 
in  the  German  Ocean.  In  the  old  Pictish  Dr.  Lingard's  "  History  of  England,"  vol. 
language,  they  are  said  to  have  been  i.,  chap,  ii.,  p.  63.  This  happened,  while 
called  Ar  Cath,  or  the  Tail  of  Caithness.  Eugene  or  Evan,  the  forty- first  Scottish 
Hence,  classic  writers  have  their  denomina-  king,  was  on  the  throne.  He  died  A.D.  452. 
tion,  Orcades.  These  are  divided  into  the  See  Buchannan's  "Rerum  Scoticarum  His- 
North  and  South  groups  of  Islands.  Some  toria,"  lib.  v.,  pp.  125  to  131.  The  Picts 
of  these  are  called  Skirrachs — corresponding  and  Scots  had  made  so  many  inroads  on  the 
with  the  Irish  word  Skerries — which  are  more  southern  Britons,  after  the  Romans 
chiefly  barren  rocks,  often  covered  by  the  abandoned  Britain,  that  King  Vortigern  in- 
salt-water.  Others,  which  abound  in  pas-  vited  the  Saxons,  under  Hengist  and  Horsa, 
turage,  are  designated  Holms.  to  make  head  against  their  enemies.     This 

3  Now  Caithness,  a  district  in  the  extreme  success,  however,  resulted  in  the  final  sub- 
north-east  of  the  mainland  of  Scotland.  See  jugation  of  the  ancient  Britons  to  the  Saxon 
an  interesting  account  of  it  in  Fullarton's  power,  yet  not  without  a  prolonged  and 
"Imperial  Gazetteer  of  Scotland,"  vol.  i.,  vigorous  resistance.  In  some  parts  of  Wales 
pp.  218  to  222.  and  Scotland,  notwithstanding,  the  Britons 

^  King   Congall  I.,  who  was   the  forty-  seem  to  have  held  not  inconsiderable  terri- 

fourth  monarch  of  Scotland,  according  to  lories.     See   Rev.   Thomas   Innes'    "Civil 

Buchanan,  succeeded  Constantine  I.     After  and   Ecclesiastical    History  of    Scotland." 

a  reign  of  twenty-two  years.  King  Congall  I.  Book  i.,  sees.  XLix.  to  Liii.,  pp.  88  to  95. 

died  A.D,  501.     See  "Renim  Scoticarum  ^  See   "De  Statu  Hominis  vetcris  simul 

Historia,"  lib.  v.,  pp.  133  fo  135.     In  the  ac  novae  Ecclesize,  et  Sanctis  Regni  Scotice," 

list  of  Pictish  Kings,  as  furnished  by  Rev,  lib.  i,,  cap.  iii.,  sec,  ii.,  p.  141. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  51 


versation.  This  most  amiable  child,  from  her  earliest  years,  began  to 
understand,  that  modesty  should  be  the  companion  and  guardian  of  all  her 
other  virtues ;  while,  her  most  earnest  desires  were  directed  to  cultivate  this 
lily  of  female  perfection.  In  her  angelic  countenance,  in  her  words  and  her 
motions,  in  her  gait,  gestures,  dress  and  actions,  she  exhibited  that  greatest 
adornment  of  her  sex ;  but,  those  exterior  appearances  were  supplied  from 
the  deep  springs  of  her  stainless  soul,  which  would  not  admit  there  a  single 
trace  of  impurity  to  leave  any  impress.  She  conceived  herself,  as  bound  to 
remove  from  the  gaze  of  men,  whatever  might  be  calculated  to  afford  them 
occasion  for  sin ;  and  she  knew,  that  the  Almighty  diligently  searches  the 
secrets  of  hearts,  to  judge  how  far  the  roots  of  evil  passion  make  progress. 
A  virgin,  not  alone  in  name,  but  in  truth,  Brigid  left  nothing  undone  to 
increase  her  merits  in  God's  sight,  while  she  desired  nothing,  which  a  true 
Christian  should  avoid  procuring. 

All  these  virtues,  however,  did  not  screen  our  Saint  from  the  envy  and 
persecution  of  her  father's  wife — thus  runs  the  fable — when,  with  her  nurse, 
she  had  been  sent  to  her  first  home  by  the  Magus.  It  usually  happens, 
either  through  himself  or  through  his  instruments,  the  Devil  pursues  with 
malignity  those  most  loved  by  God,  and  principally,  with  a  view  to  pervert 
their  understanding.  Hence,  our  Saint's  step-mother  was  accustomed  to 
find  fault  with  everything  said  or  done  by  this  unoffending  child.  Often 
were  injurious  words  and  even  cruel  stripes  inflicted  on  the  innocent  creature. 
Not  content  with  such  a  tyrannical  course  of  conduct,  by  her  incessant  and 
secret  denunciation,  that  wicked  woman  excited  the  Saint's  father  to  adopt  a 
like  treatment  towards  a  daughter  he  had  heretofore  so  much  loved.  Thus, 
instead  of  finding  a  natural  protector  in  the  person  of  her  parent,  Brigid 
found  a  tyrant :  from  being  much  attached  to  his  daughter,  her  father  became 
a  persecutor ;  his  love  was  changed  to  dislike,  and  his  kindness  into  the 
grossest  injustice.  However,  his  wife  could  not  urge  him  to  sell  his  daugh- 
ter, as  a  slave ;  yet,  she  endeavoured  to  render  the  girl's  position  almost  as 
intolerable,  by  directing  her  to  engage  in  most  servile  and  laborious  offices. 
It  is  said,  that  moved  by  his  wife's  persuasions,  her  father  imposed  an  obli- 
gation of  tending  swine  upon  his  young  daughter. 7  Without  a  murmur,  she 
accepted  such  a  humiliating  employment,  to  become  reconciled  under  those 
injuries  inflicted  by  her  father,  and  partially  to  escape  from  the  malevolent 
attempts  of  her  step-mother.  The  young  maid  frequently  meditated  on 
Christ's  passion,  and  thence  derived  most  salutary  thoughts.  She  consi- 
dered, that  the  sufferings  of  this  life  are  not  worthy  of  being  compared  to  the 
glories  of  that  kingdom,  which  Christ  shall  reveal  to  His  perfect  ones.  So, 
spending  much  time  out-of-doors,  while  engaged  at  an  humble  employment, 
she  did  not  neglect  her  duties  to  God.  When  at  home,  she  was  either 
occupied  in  prayer,  or  in  relieving  the  wants  of  the  poor.^  During  a  time 
thus  spent,  it  chanced  that  her  herd  of  swine  dispersed  while  grazing,  so  that 
some  escaped  the  supervision  of  their  young  guardian.  At  this  moment,  two 
thieves  who  were  passing  observed  the  opportunity  afforded  them  to  make  a 
seizure.  Accordingly,  these  men  drove  away  two  of  the  swine  as  a  prey. 
But,  it  so  happened,  that  Dubthach  was  distantly  seen  by  the  robbers  ap- 
proaching them ;  whereupon,  fearing  merited  punishment,  they  betook  them- 
selves to  flight.  On  coming  to  that  spot,  where  his  swine  had  been  aban- 
doned, the  master  soon  discovered,  that  these  were  a  portion  of  his  herd. 


7  See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish       the   Saints,"   vol.  ii.,    p-ebruary  I,   p.  i6. 
Priest,  cbap.  ii.,  p.  15.  Likewise,  Mrs.  Anastasia O'Bynie's  "  Saints 

®See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of      of  Ireland,"  part  ii.,  p.  14. 


52  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


Having  concealed  them  for  a  moment,  he  proceeded  to  the  place  where  his 
daughter  was.  Meantime,  at  first  concealing  his  anger,  under  an  affected 
hilarity  and  in  words  calmly  expressed,  soon  he  changed  this  assumed  coun- 
tenance and  tone,  by  asking  his  daughter,  if  she  could  account  for  the  entire 
number  of  swine  entrusted  to  her  care,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  animal. 
The  holy  maiden,  having  full  faith  in  Almighty  power,  entreated  her  father 
to  examine  and  see  if  he  had  the  full  number.  Carefully  counting  the  herd, 
\J)ubtacJi  found  inckided  those  swine  he  had  concealed.  Astonished  at  such 
a^4£sult,  tfie  cHieftain  then  returned  to  his  home.9 

Our  pious  nlaid  bore  her  trials  with  patience  and  constancy ;  while 
humility  induced  her  on  all  occasions  to  refer  her  meritorious  actions  entirely 
to  God,  as  she  knew  that  all  human  virtues  have  their  origin  in  the  bestowal 
of  Divine  Grace.  And,  as  she  had  not  received  these  heavenly  gifts  in  vain, 
Brigid  zealously  co-operated  with  them.  She  advanced  each  day  towards 
the  highest  degree  of  perfection.  The  more  humility  endeared  her  to  the 
Almighty,  the  more  was  His  glory  manifested  through  her,  in  the  miracles 
which  were  wrought.  Brigid's  virtues  are  greatly  extolled  by  her  pane- 
gyrists. ^°  All  these  good  dispositions,  however,  were  not  a  sufficient  protec- 
tion from  her  step-mother's  enmity.  This  woman  even  took  occasion  to  find 
fault  with  the  girl's  excellent  qualities,  for  she  envied  that  good  repute, 
which  was  justly  due  to  our  Saint's  merits."  Such  malignity  seemed  to  in- 
crease each  day,  and  reproaches  were  redoubled,  when  it  had  been  reported 
miracles  were  wrought,  on  occasion  of  that  theft  which  had  been  committed, 
and  at  the  time  of  her  nurse's  infirmity.  Thenceforward,  envy  began  to 
assume  the  characteristics  of  a  fixed  hatred.  All  the  efforts  of  a  wicked 
woman's  malice  were  directed  towards  the  further  persecution  of  an  innocent 
child,  on  whom  a  variety  of  laborious  occupations  were  imposed.  Not  only 
was  the  virgin  employed  as  swine-herd,  but  she  was  obliged  to  bake,  to  cook, 
to  weave,  to  tend  sheep  and  to  engage  in  harvest  labours.  Still  more 
humiliating  and  onerous  offices  were  exacted  from  her.  These  must  have 
been  sufficient  to  break  the  spirit  and  constitution  of  any  child,  even  less 
eminently  gifted  and  constituted  than  our  Saint.  Yet,  Brigid  considered  no 
work  more  servile,  than  that  of  sin ;  and,  therefore,  she  patiently  commenced, 
prudently  continued,  and  admirably  executed,  her  various  heavy  tasks. 
The  legend  proceeds  to  state,  that  the  hatred  and  envy  of  St.  Brigid's  step- 
mother, once  aroused,  could  not  easily  be  dispelled ;  and,  as  the  holy  virgin's 
o^vn  mother  had  become  a  free  woman,  efforts  were  made  to  reduce  her 
innocent  daughter  to  a  state  of  servitude.  As  some  plausible  pretext  was 
even  wanting  for  this  purpose,  after  an  anxious  scrutiny  into  the  maiden's 
life,  no  single  word  or  action  of  her  step-daughter  being  open  to  reproach, 
resort  was  had  to  calumnies  and  intrigue."  The  whole  tenor  of  this  sweet 
child's  life  was  one  of  blameless  virtue ;  yet,  it  was  sought  to  give  a  false 
colouring  to  her  good  actions,  and  to  represent  them  as  worthy  of  blame  and 
punishment.  It  was  said,  although  possessing  no  property  of  her  own,  that 
Brigid  notwithstanding  bestowed  large  alms  on  the  poor,  and  hence  she  must 
have  stolen,  what  she  did  not  rightly  give  away.     To  her  husband,  the  step- 


9  This  is  more  briefly  related  in  Professor  been  the  daughter  of  a  bard  and  of  a  beauti- 

O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  pp.  9,  10.  ful  captive,  tells  us,  the  latter  was  chased, 

*"  These  are  specially  enumerated  in  the  like  another  Agar,  t)y  her  master,  and  at  the 

Hymn  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen.     vSee  Colgan's  suggestion  of  his  wife.     See   "Les  Moines 

••Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita  Prima  S.  Bri-  d'Occident,"  tome  ii.,  liv.  ix.,  chap,  i.,  p. 

gidsE,  sees,  3,  4,  11,  12,  p.  515.  462. 

"The  Count  de   Montalembert,    whose  "See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish 

fancy  leans  to  the  legend  of  Brigid  having  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  15,  16. 


February  t.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  53 


mother  represented  a  probability  of  his  house  being  robbed  by  his  own 
daughter,  as  she  abstracted  all  the  value  it  contained  to  enrich  others,  and 
this  under  the  guise  of  piety.  Thus,  it  was  urged,  while  the  maiden  extended 
her  bounty  towards  strangers,  her  own  father  was  likely  to  be  reduced  to 
great  poverty,  unless  he  took  suitable  precautions  against  such  a  result. 
Hence,  the  step-mother  reasoned,  that  prevention  being  better  than  cure,  her 
husband  should  obviate  this  state  of  things,  as  it  must  prove  vain  to  mend 
matters,  when  he  must  be  in  actual  need.  In  order  to  prevent  the  absolute 
poverty  of  his  family,  advice  was  given  to  sell  his  daughter  as  a  slave,  and  if 
he  rejected  this  counsel,  it  was  represented,  he  must  soon  experience  those 
difficulties,  attendant  on  a  complete  loss  of  property.  By  these  and  similar 
arguments,  the  insidious  woman  wrought  on  her  husband's  mind,  and  in  a 
short  time,  effecting  the  estrangement  of  his  affections  from  the  holy  maiden, 
she  excited  prejudices  against  Brigid.  As  it  formerly  happened,  when  the 
enemies  of  Daniel  the  Prophet  represented  him  praying  to  God,  in  opposition 
to  the  king's  edict  ;^3  so  was  it  now  said,  that  the  Saint  gave  alms  for  God's 
sake,  but  at  the  expense  of  her  father.  And,  as  Daniel  had  been  delivered 
to  the  jaws  of  lions  to  be  devoured,  so  was  Brigid  about  to  be  sold  as  a  slave 
to  strangers ;  yet,  since  both  were  found  faithful  to  God,  therefore  did  the 
Almighty  liberate  them  from  a  fate  to  which  they  had  been  respectively 
doomed.  Brigid's  father,  however,  would  only  consent  to  sell  his  daughter  to 
a  king  or  chief,  as  being  herself  of  noble  birth.  With  this  view,  a  chariot  was 
prepared,  which  Dubtach  drove  to  the  neighbouring  castle,  where  his  king, 
named  Dunlang,  then  dwelt. "^  When  he  had  arrived  at  this  place,  Dubtach 
left  his  daughter  in  the  chariot  without,  while  he  entered  the  castle  to  pay  his 
liege  respects.  After  discoursing  awhile  on  state  affairs  and  things  of  moment, 
their  conversation  was  directed  to  less  important  topics.  Dubtach  then 
added,  that  he  had  with  him  a  virgin,  who  was  to  be  sold,  and  that  if  it 
pleased  the  king  to  purchase  her,  there  was  every  reason  to  believe  she 
should  not  occupy  the  lowest  place  in  his  estimation  among  his  other  female 
servants.  In  reply  to  the  king's  inquiries,  Dubtach  acknowledged,  also,  that 
she  was  his  own  daughter.  The  king  asked  his  reason  for  selling  her,  and 
was  told,  that  her  parents  feared  she  should  make  him  a  poor  man,  since  she 
abstracted  all  his  worldly  substance  to  bestow  it  on  the  poor.^s  Thereupon, 
those  who  attended  the  king  said :  "  The  good  report  of  this  your  daughter 
has  reached  all  parts  of  Ireland,  and  raised  her  immeasurably  in  our  estima- 
tion ;  and,  it  is  very  strange,  that  you  her  father  should  accuse  her  of  being 
guilty,  when  all  strangers  concur  in  praising  her."  Whereupon,  the  king 
commanded  her  to  be  brought  into  his  presence.  We  are  told  again,  while 
Brigid's  father  delayed  within  his  dynast's  castle,  a  poor  man  came  to  ask 
alms  from  the  daughter,  when  she  presented  him  with  her  parent's  sword. ^^ 
Her  father  afterwards  introduced  Brigid  to  the  king,  but,  on  learning  what 
she  had  done,  Dubtach  felt  greatly  concerned  at  the  loss  of  his  sword.  This 
was  one  of  great  value,  and  the  more  prized,  as  it  had  been  a  present  from 
the  King  of  Leinster,  whom  he  then  visited.  Dubtach  ordered  the  mendicant 
to  be  followed,  that  his  sword  might  be  recovered.  Then  conducting  his 
daughter  to  the  king,  the  chief  angrily  complained  about  the  loss  he  had 

^3  Daniel  vi.  character  of  this  whole  narrative  preceding  ; 

^4  In  a  note,  we  are  told  by  Colgan,  that  for,  our  Saint  is  there  represented  as  con- 

the   king,    whom   her   father    visited,    was  founding  ideas  of  charitable  actions  in  prac- 

Dunlang,  King  of  Leinster,  as  appears  from  tice  with  actual  sins  of  injustice,  not  credit- 

an  Irisli  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  xiv.     See  able  to  her  moral  or  religious   perceptive 

"Trias  Thaumaturga, "  n.  lo,  p.  543.  faculties.     These  are  not  the  sole  objections 

^5  See  Rev.  S.  Baring- Gould's  "  Lives  of  that  may  be  taken,   against  such  an  incon- 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  i,  p.  16.  gruous  and  incredible  story,  imder  all  its 

'^  We  can  easily  arrive  at  the  legendary  laboured  and  inventive  characteristics. 


54  LIVES  OF  2 HE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


sustained  through  her.  Looking  upon  the  young  maid,  the  king  greatly 
admired  her  candour  and  gravity  of  countenance,  her  habit  and  deportment, 
before  asking  why  she  gave  that  sword  to  a  beggar,  which  he  had  presented 
to  her  father.  Our  Saint  answered,  "  Do  not  wonder  that  I  have  bestowed 
what  was  in  my  keeping  on  the  poor,  since,  were  it  in  my  power  to  do  so,  I 
should  give  all  possessed  by  you,  O  king,  and  by  my  father,  to  them ;  for, 
the  Almighty  will  confer  eternal  rewards  on  those,  who  for  His  sake  give 
temporal  riches."'7  Then  turning  to  Dubtach,  the  king  exclaimed  :  "  This 
virgin  is  too  holy  and  .exalted  to  be  either  bought  or  sold,  and  I  have  not 
even  means  for  purchasing  her,  because  she  is  more  precious  than  any  amount 
of  silver  or  gold.^^  As  for  that  good  sword  which  she  gave  to  the  poor  man, 
I  shall  present  you  with  one  equally  valuable ;  and,  if  you  abide  by  my 
advice,  you  will  allow  her  to  follow  the  bent  of  her  own  inclinations/'^^ 
Approving  this  advice,  and  being  honoured  with  gifts,  Dubtach  returned 
home  with  his  daughter,  whose  freedom  was  thus  assured.^° 

In  continuation  of  this  same  narrative,  it  is  stated,  that  having  thus  ob- 
tained her  freedom,  the  virgin  of  Christ  could  conceive  no  state  of  servitude 
worse  than  to  abuse  her  liberty.  Wherefore,  her  human  was  exchanged  for 
a  Divine  service.  She  consecrated  herself  by  vow  to  Jesus,  the  Spouse  of 
Virgins,^^  and  being  now  more  at  leisure  to  indulge  the  bent  of  her  inclina- 
tions, she  considered  all  former  religious  exercises  of  too  little  value  in  the  sight 
of  God.  She  macerated  her  body  with  increased  vigils  and  fasting.  Her 
mind  began  to  soar  with  greater  ease  and  fervour  to  pious  contemplation 
and  Divine  love.  She  imitated  the  industry  of  the  bee,  which,  wandering 
through  pleasant  gardens,  collects  their  sweet  juices  from  various  flowers,  in 
order  to  produce  a  still  more  luscious  essence,  in  the  loaded  hive.  The 
holy  girl  is  said  to  have  visited  the  houses  of  pious  virgins,  and  to  have  culled 
admirable  practices  of  virtue  from  the  conduct  of  each,  with  a  view  of  adapt- 
ing them  to  her  own  spiritual  improvement.  Such  was  her  charity,  and 
indefatigable  zeal  in  visiting  the  sick,  that  whenever  she  heard  about  any  of 
those  holy  women  being  confined  to  a  bed  of  illness,  Brigid  immediately 
hastened  to  afford  consolation  to  the  invalid.  Nor  did  she  leave  the  patient, 
until  this  latter  had  either  been  restored  to  health,  or  had  terminated  a  mor- 
tal career. 

In  various  accounts,  it  is  related,  that  Brigid  had  been  sought  in  marriage 
from  her  parents.^^  Her  great  wisdom,  not  less  than  her  personal  attrac- 
tions, caused  a  general  admiration. "^3  A  bard  suitor,  called  Dubthach,  the 
son  of  Luguir,  is  said  to  have  proposed  for  her  in  marriage.  This  man  had 
been  very  celebrated  for  his  learning^-*  and  innocence  of  life.^s    He  was 

^^  This  anecdote  is  related  in  L.  Tachet  ^^  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  *'  Lives  of 

de  Barneval's   "Historic  Legendaire  de  1'  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  I,  p.  i6. 

Irlande,"  chap,  viii.     The  writer  adds,  that  "  See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish 

as   St.    Patrick  represented  Christian  and  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  23,  24. 

apostolic  perfection,  St.  Brigid  personified  =3  See  Le  Comte  de  Montalembert's  "Les 

mercy  and  charity.     See  p.  75.  Moines    d'Occident,"    tome    ii.,    liv.   ix., 

'^  The  foregoing  narrative  is  found  related  chap.  i. ,  p.  462. 

in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  where  =♦  He  is  generally  known  as  one  of  Ire- 

Dunlaing  is  called  the  son  of  Enna.     See  land's  chief   poets,    in   the    fifth    century. 

pp.  1$,  16.  Some  of  the  Poems,  attributed  to  him,  have 

*9  See   "  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  been  published  in  the  Rev.  John  Shearman's 

Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  21  to  23.  "  Loca  Patriciana,"  No.  vi.     "Journal  of 

"°  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  the   Royal   Historical   and    Archaiological 

Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  ix.,  xii.,  xiv.,  Association  of  Ireland,"   vol.   iii.     Fourth 

XV.,  xvi.,xvii.,  xxii.,  xxiii.,  xxiv.,  pp.   569  Series,  No.  19,  July,  1874,  pp.  183  to  196. 

to  S73-.    Some  of  those  circumstances  are  =s  Such  account  is  contained  in  the  Irish 

also  briefly  related  in  the  Third  lAie.—Ibid.  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  chapter  xv.,  as  quoted  by 

Vita  Tenia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xvi.,  p.  528.  Colgan. 


I 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  55 


among  the  foremost  of  Leogaire's  courtiers'*^  to  render  public  honour  to  St. 
Patrick,  and  to  believe  in  Christ,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  Life  of  our  Irish 
Apostle.  =^7  Various  versions  of  St.  Brigid  having  been  sought  in  marriage 
survive  in  popular  belief.'^  An  Irish  Life  of  the  Virgin  simply  states,  that 
her  suitor  was  a  man  of  good  family, '9  which  indicates — if  the  narrative  be 
accepted — that  her  own  birth  was  respectable,  both  on  her  father's  and 
mother's  side.  This  proposal  is  stated  to  have  been  acceptable  both  to 
Dubtach  and  to  his  sons.3° 

On  a  certain  day,  while  she  hastened  on  some  errand  of  mercy,  we  are 
informed,  that  Brigid  met  her  brothers  on  the  way.  These  were  four  in 
number.  One  of  them,  named  Baithen,  seems  to  have  inherited  the  perse- 
cuting disposition  of  his  mother,  and  he  is  said  to  have  addressed  the  others 
in  these  terms :  "  I  know  not  what  sort  of  superstitious  vanity  urges  our 
sister  to  travel  from  place  to  place ;  she  avoids  all  familiarity  with  men, 
moreover,  obstinately  living  and  seeming  disposed  to  persevere  in  a  state  of 
life  repugnant  to  natural  feeHng.  She  will  not  gratify  father  or  brothers  with 
any  hope  of  her  bearing  children ;  but,  preferring  her  own  will  to  that  of  the 
Almighty,  and  her  own  laws  to  those  of  nature,  she  loves  a  state  of  virginity, 
with  our  family  dishonour  and  privation,  to  the  more  honourable  condition 
of  becoming  mother  over  a  numerous  offspring.  But,  my  brothers,  let  us 
put  an  end  to  this  egregious  folly,  and  consulting  our  family  interests,  we 
must  overcome  her  designs,  seeking  for  some  noble,  as  a  suitable  husband 
for  her.  This,  I  have  no  doubt,  can  easily  be  accomplished.  Thus,  shall 
he  become  the  son-in-law  of  our  father,  as  also  a  friend  and  an  ally  to  our- 
selves." But,  the  other  young  men  interposed  on  her  behalf  and  said  :  "  It 
is  neither  manly  nor  brotherly  to  persecute  our  young  sister,  especially  as 
she  has  made  the  better  choice,  while  resolving  to  leave  terrestrial  for  hea- 
venly things,  and  as  she  hath  chosen  Christ  to  be  her  spouse,  rather  than 
man.  Would  it  not  be  base  for  us,  and  dishonourable  as  brothers,  to  divert 
our  sister  from  her  holy  purpose,  even  if  we  could  effect  such  an  object  ? 
Should  we  fail  to  do  so,  must  it  not  be  equally  disgraceful  to  make  an 
attempt,  over  which  her  constancy  must  prevail,  thus  showing  that  a  single 


2*  Colgan  remarks,  however,   that  when  tunities  of  a  young  marriage  suitor,  by  set- 

Brigid  had  arrived  at  a  marriageable  age,  ting  out  one  night  for  Castletown  Church, 

this  Dubthach  must  have  been  advanced  in  which,  it  is  said,  was  also  called  Cibb  b]\6in. 

years.     See   "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  She  passed  by  a  small  river,    taking  its  rise 

Vita  S.  Ihigidae,  cap.  xvii.,  and  n.  ii,  pp.  at  Sliabh  Guilenn,  and  running  in  a  south- 

528,  529,  543.  east  direction,   between  Faughart  Hill  and 

^7  The  Sixth  Hexameter  Life  of  our  Saint  Castletown,  falling  into  the  bay  of  Dundalk. 

commences  its  narrative  of  the  foregoing  She  knelt  by  the  banks  of  this  stream,  and 

circumstances  with  these  lines  : —  escaped  her  pursuer.     At  the  place,  where 

this  happened,  a  much  frequented  station 

*'  Proximus  huic  fuerat  juvenis,    qui  jura  used  to  be  held,  until  the  landed  proprietor 

parentum  cut  down  certain  bushes  by  the  stream,  and 

Unica  cura  fuit ;  pulsabat  virginis  aures  altered  the  whole  local  appearance.     It  is 

Per  se,  perque  patrem,  per  fratres  atque  said,  that  after  this  circumstance,  St.  Brigid 

sorores,  remained  at  Gill  b|\6iri,   while  her  sister 

Munera    muneribus    promittens    addere  continued  to  live  at  Gill  mui^e,  or  Fough- 

plura,  art.     See  '*  Louth  Letters  containing  Infor- 

Auribus  purpureas,  argenti  pondera,  ves-  mation  relative  to  the  Antiquities   of  the 

tes,  County,  collected  during  the   Progress  of 

Divitiasque    domus,     millenos    praedia,  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1835-1836,"  vol.  i., 

servos."  pp.  287,  288. 

=9  Such    is    the    account    in    Professor 

^^  Thus,  the  people  about  Faughart  have  O'Looney's  MS.  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  15, 

a  tradition,   that  while  St.  Brigid  and  her  1 6. 

sister  lived  in  a  church  at  this  place,  the  ^o  /(5/^.      See,    likewise,    Bishop   Forbes' 

holy  virgin  was  obliged  to  shun  the  impor-  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  288. 


56 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  t. 


girl  may  obtain  a  victory  over  four  men  ?  Let  our  sister  serve  God  in  the 
way  she  purposes,  and,  by  our  goodness  towards  her,  let  us  seek  her  happi- 
ness, for  if  we  attempt  to  disturb  it,  the  guilt  will  rest  on  our  souls."  This 
discussion  became  exceedingly  animated  as  the  subject  of  it  approached.  A 
quarrel  seemed  likely  to  ensue,  when  the  holy  virgin,  who  had  come  up  to 
them,  besought  the  Almighty  most  earnestly  to  restore  peace  among  her 
brothers,  and  to  manifest  His  Providence  in  her  regard.3^  Immediately,  as 
the  legend  relates,  one  of  her  eyes  became  distempered,  and  it  disappeared. 3' 
So  shocking  an  occurrence,  attended  with  a  consequent  deformity  of  features, 
which  before  had  been  so  singularly  beautiful,  caused  that  brother,  who  had 
so  anxiously  sought  to  engage  her  in  a  married  state  to  change  his  intentions. 
Her  other  brethren,  who  had  contended  for  our  Saint's  freedom  of  choice, 
on  seeing  her  beautiful  features  thus  sadly  disfigured  and  injured,  felt  the 
greatest  compassion  for  her.  They  cried  out,  that  this  privation  could  not 
have  happened,  if  she  had  not  been  opposed  in  her  desire  of  leading  a  single 
life.33  They  lamented,  likewise,  no  water  was  near,  to  wash  stains  of  blood, 
which  trickled  from  her  face,  thus  to  assuage  her  pain,  if  they  could  not 
repair  that  injury,  endured  by  their  beloved  sister. 34  But,  the  Virgin  of 
Christ,  knew  that  her  holy  Spouse  would  be  her  protector.  That  she  might 
not  leave  her  brothers  anxious  and  inconsolable  on  her  account,  Brigid  de- 
sired them  to  dig  the  ground  where  they  stood.  With  full  reliance  in  the 
Divine  clemency,  our  Saint  offered  her  prayers  to  heaven,  when  He,  who 
formerly  produced  water  from  the  desert  rock,  at  the  stroke  of  His  prophet,3S 
now  brought  forth  a  stream  from  the  dry  soil,  to  reward  the  confidence  of 
His  favoured  child.  Her  three  friendly  brothers,  amazed  at  this  miracle, 
and  full  of  fraternal  affection  towards  their  sister,  at  once  began  to  apply 
that  water  to  wash  her  bleeding  face,  when  to  their  still  greater  astonishment, 
both  her  eyes  seemed  perfect,  as  before  the  late  privation.3^  Full  of  joy  at 
this  discovery,  they  gave  thanks  to  God.  But,  the  brother,  who  inherited 
his  mother's  malignant  and  intractable  nature,  made  use  of  reproachful  ex- 
pressions towards  them  and  towards  our  Saint.  For  such  reproaches,  how- 
ever, he  was  miraculously  punished,  by  the  instant  loss  of  one  of  his  eyes. 
This  chastisement  humbled  him  so  much,  that  henceforward  no  serious 
obstacle  was  interposed  to  prevent  his  sister  from  following  the  bent  of  her 
inclinations,  and  that  course  of  her  life,  decreed  by  heaven. 37 

The  whole  course  of  Brigid's  career  was  destined  to  be  traced  out  by 
signs  from  heaven.     In  the  most  recently  written  Hves  of  our  saintjS^  we  are 


3*  In  Bishop  Forbes'  **  Kalendars  of  Scot- 
tish Saints,"  it  is  stated,  St.  Brigid  asked 
the  Lord  to  send  her  some  deformity,  so  as 
to  avoid  the  importunity  of  her  parents. 
See  p.  288.  Also,  Supplementum  Breviarii 
Romani  pro  Hibernia,  Lect  iv. 

3^  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gculd's  **  Lives  of 
the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  Febraary  i,  p.  16. 

33  See  "Life  of  St.  Bdgid,"  by  an  Irish 
Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  23  to  25. 

34  In  the  life  of  our  Saint,  by  Cogitosus, 
it  is  merely  said,  that  her  parents  "  more 
humano  viro  desponsare  vellent,  ilia  coelitus 
inspirata,"  &c. — Ibid.  "  Secunda  Vita  S. 
Brigidae,"  cap.  iii.,  p.  519.  And,  in  the 
succeeding  life,  it  is  stated,  that  a  certain 
honourable  man  visited  Dubtach,  to  ask  his 
daughter  in  marriage  ;  but,  aUhough  his  suit 
was  favoured  by  her  father  and  brothers,  it 


would  not  be  entertained  by  Brigid.  When 
earnestly  pressed  to  yield  on  this  point,  the 
Saint  prayed  the  Almighty  to  inflict  on  her 
some  qorporal  deformity,  which  would  free 
her  from  man's  solicitations.  Then  one  of 
her  eyes  melted  in  her  head.  Still  the  vir- 
gin, preferring  loss  of  corporal  beauty  to  that 
of  her  soul's  virtue,  felt  satisfied  \\\\\\  this 
privation.  Her  father  knowing  this  permit- 
ted her  to  assume  the  veil,  at  which  time 
her  lost  eye  was  restored. 

35  See  Exodus  xvii. 

3^  These  incidents  are  somewhat  differently 
yet  more  briefly  related  in  Professor  O'Loo- 
ney's  Irish  Life,  pp.  15  to  18. 

37  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  cap.  xxv.,  xxvi,, 
xxvii.,  p.  573. 

3^  As  published  by  Colgan. 


Ferruary  I.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  57 


told,  that  seven  holy  virgins39  proposed  to  themselves  a  course  of  spiritual 
discipline  under  St.  Brigid's  rule,  being  animated  with  a  like  spirit,  and  wish- 
ing to  effect  their  sanctification,  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  pious 
lady.4°  For,  it  was  now  universally  acknowledged,  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
wrought  many  wonderful  works  through  our  saint,  and  that  all  her  designs 
prospered,  through  Divine  inspiration.  The  illustrious  virgin  considered  and 
approved  their  purposes  and  wishes.  With  the  greatest  readiness  and  pleasure, 
thinking  that  she  could  best  promote  their  spiritual  interests  and  her  own, 
she  resolved  to  take  the  veil  with  them,  and  to  lead  a  life,  directed  by  con- 
ventual rule.  No  sooner  had  their  project  been  mutually  agreed  to,  than  it 
was  deemed  proper  to  hasten  without  delay  to  a  certain  bishop,  named 
Maccalle,-*'  and  by  others,  Macculleus.'*^'  Full  of  pious  fervour,  the  postu- 
lants sought  his  benediction,  and  requested  through  his  offices,  they  might 
be  consecrated  to  Christ.  But,  this  bishop,43  not  knowing  their  previous 
course  of  life,  and  fearing  those  tender  virgins  were  urged  through  some  im- 
pulsive motive,  rather  than  by  an  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  refused  to 
comply  at  once  with  the  prayer  of  their  petition.  For  he  knew,  with  the 
Apostle,  that  episcopal  hands  should  not  be  lightly  imposed  on  each  person 
applying,'»4  nor  should  it  be  supposed,  that  every  spirit  was  from  God,45  until 
a  sufficient  probation  took  place.  When  St.  Brigid  found  this  natural  hesita- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  bishop,  with  a  firm  trust,  she  betook  herself  to  the 
oft-repeated  expedient  of  prayer. 4^  She  besought  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  she 
had  been  inspired  to  undertake  a  course  chosen,  that  she  might  also  have 
the  consolation  to  achieve  its  desired  results.  The  Almighty  never  fails  to 
sustain  those,  who  w^orship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  That  the  interior 
fervour  of  this  holy  virgin  might  be  manifested  by  exterior  signs,  while  she 
and  her  companions  prayed  in  the  church,47  a  column  of  fire  shone  above 
her  head,  and  extended  even  towards  the  roof  of  that  sacred  edifice,  to  the 
great  joy  and  astonishment  of  those,  who  chanced  to  be  present.^^  In  ad- 
miration at  this  miracle,  the  bishop  made  diligent  enquiries  about  our  saint's 


39  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  MS.  Life,  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "     Secunda 

the  number  is  not  specified,  pp.  17,  18.  Vita  S.  Brigidse,   cap.   iii.,   p.    519.     The 

4°  A  certain  writer  of  our  saint's  Acts  says  I'irst  and  Fifth  Life  name  him  Maccaleus. 

she  had  only  three  companions  when  pro-  See  ibid.     Vita  Prima  8.  Brigida;,  strophe 

fessed.     "  Et  assumptit  secum  tribus  puellis  8,   p.  515.     Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 

perrexit  ad    Episcopum    Machillan,   Sancti  xxviii.,  p.  573. 

Patricii  discipulum." — Capgrave's  "Vita  S.  ^^  See  I  Tim.  iii. 

Brigidae,"  sec.  4.  ■*$  See  I  Cor.  xiv. 

4'  This  seems  the  more  correct  form  of  ^^  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  it 
title  ;  as  evidenced  by  the  Festilogy  of  is  stated,  that  St.  Brigid,  through  humility 
^ngus,  the  Martyrologies  of  Tallagh,  of  remained  last  of  her  companions  to  receive 
Cashel,  of  Marianus  O'Gorman,  of  Charles  the  veil  from  Bishop  Mel,  until  a  column  of 
Maguire,  and  of  Donegal,  at  the  25th  of  fire  arose  from  her  head  towards  the  church- 
April.     The  same  title  will  be  found  in  St.  roof,  pp.  17,  18. 

Ultan's  Life  of  St.  Brigid  (cap.  18),  and  in  '*?  In  one  instance,  the  Third  Life  states, 

all  her  Irish  written  acts.  she  had  eight  companions,  who  received  the 

4^  The  Acts  of  this  saint  will  be  found  at  veil  with  St.  Brigid.  There,  too,  it  is 
the  25th  of  April.  In  the  edition  of  Cogi-  written,  Avhen  she  had  read  prayers  and 
tosus,  by  Colgan,  the  name  is  written  Mac-  touched  the  wooden  step  of  the  altar  with 
chille  and  in  that  of  Messingham  and  Cani-  her  hand,  it  became,  as  it  were,  green  wood, 
sius,  he  is  called  Macca.  In  the  First  Life  and  it  continued  without  decay  to  the 
of  our  saint,  by  Brogan  Cloen,  he  is  called  writer's  time.  St.  Brigid's  eye  is  said  to 
niACCAiLle.  In  a  MS.  of  St.  Hubert,  he  is  have  been  healed,  when  she  received  the  re- 
designated, Mackelle,  and  in  one  belonging  ligious  habit.  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau- 
to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Amand,  Maccillc,  maturga."  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidos,  cap. 
while  in  Surius,  the  name  is  written,  Ma-  18,  p.  529. 
chilhis.  48  See  "Life  of  St.  Erigid,"  by  an  Irish 

-•^  Called   Macchille   by  Cogitosus.     See  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  25,  26. 


58 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  r. 


parents  and  her  manner  of  living,  from  the  time  of  her  infancy.  One  of  his 
clerics  informed  him  she  was  Brigid,  the  wonder-worker,  and  a  daughter  to 
Dubtach.  Hearing  this,  the  bishop  was  most  anxious  to  comply  with  the 
desires  of  our  saint,  whose  good  fame  seemed  to  herald  her  future  career  of 
usefulness  in  the  Church.  He  placed  a  veil  on  the  heads  of  herself  and  of 
her  companions,'*^  as  he  knew  heaven  had  already,  in  a  miraculous  manner, 
decreed  approval  of  this  ministerial  agency.  It  happened,  at  the  same  time, 
while  sacramentary  rites  of  benediction  took  place, 5°  our  holy  virgin  applied 
her  hand  to  the  wood  which  sustained  the  altar, s^  and  which  appeared  quite 
dry  and  seasoned,52  as  it  had  long  being  stripped  of  its  leaves  and  bark.ss 
It  is  said,  immediately  upon  being  touched  by  St.  Brigid,  that  it  became 
virescent.s4  On  a  subsequent  occasion,  when  the  church,  where  such  oc- 
currence took  place,  had  been  consumed  by  fire,  that  particular  portion 
escaped  the  flames. ss  Thus,  as  he  had  formerly  wrought  great  miracles 
under  the  Old  dispensation.  Almighty  God  would  chose  to  continue  his 
works  under  the  New,  through  all  time  loving  His  elect  and  affording  His 
protection  to  them.  While  the  children  of  Israel  journeyed  towards  the 
promised  land.  He  preceded  them  by  a  pillar  of  fire  ',^^  and  while  St.  Brigid 
directed  her  course  towards  the  heavenly  country  of  her  adoption,  by  the 
column  of  fire  ascending  heavenwards.  He  directed  her  thoughts  from  a 
teiTene  to  a  celestial  ambition.  The  Third  Life  relates,  three  virginss?  ac- 
companied her,  on  their  visit  to  Bishops  Mel^^  and  Melchu.     An  Irish  Life 


49  In  the  Third  Life  of  our  saint,  it  is  re- 
lated, how  she  took  with  her  three  virgins, 
with  whom  she  went  to  the  territory  of  the 
sons  of  Neill,  and  to  the  saints,  Bishops 
Mel  and  Melchu.  These  are  stated  to  have 
been  disciples  of  St,  Patrick,  and  to  have 
had  a  disciple  named  Macaille,  who  said  to 
Mel:  "Lo,  the  holy  virgins  are  without, 
who  wish  to  receive  the  veil  of  virginity  at 
your  hands."  When  he  had  introduced 
them  before  Bishop  Mel,  and  while  the  latter 
was  looking  at  them,  on  a  sudden,  a  column 
of  fire  seemed  to  surmount  the  head  of 
Brigid. 

5°  The  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint  has  it,  "  in- 
ter  ipsa  benedictionum  sacramenta,"  &c. 
We  are  not  to  understand,  that  the  profes- 
sion or  clothing  of  a  virgin  is  to  be  classed 
amongst  the  sacratfients  of  the  Church,  pro- 
perly so  called  ;  but,  it  is  assigned  to  the 
jarrflwt'«/fl//a— distinguished  from  the  sa- 
cramenta. By  sacramentalia  are  understood 
a  variety  of  benedictions  and  consecrations, 
which  do  not  confer  sacramental  graces, 
peculiar  to  the  effective  administration  of 
the  seven  sacraments.  See,  in  reference  to 
this  distinction,  Devoti's  "Institutionum 
Canonicarum,"  libri  iv.,  tomus  i.,  lib.  ii., 
tit.  ii.,  sec.  i.,  pp.  365,  366.  If  the  word 
sacramenta  be  found  in  Laurence  of  Dur- 
ham's original  MS.,  it  seems  to  have  been 
improperly  introduced  for  sacranientalia. 
However,  such  verbal  introduction  may 
have  been  the  error  of  a  copyist. 

5'  See  Camerarius,  "  De  Statu  Hominis, 
veteris  simul  ac  novse  Ecclesise,  et  Infidelium 
Conversione,"  lib.  L,  cap.  iii.,  sec.  ii.,  p. 
140. 


52  See  the  ''Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  27,  28. 

53  In  the  following  Latin  verses,  R.  P. 
Bandinus  Gualfredutius,  S.J.,  has  recorded 
this  miracle  : 

**  Arida    quod    tenero    revirescunt    robora 
tactu, 
Inque  suo  vivit  stipite  vita  redux  ; 
Virginese  memoranda  colas  miracula  dex- 
trse  ; 
Urentes  nunquam  senserat  ilia  faces." 
— Lib.  i.,  "  Sacrorum  Mensium,"  pars.  i. 

54  Here  there  is  a  comparison  between  the 
wood  becoming  green,  to  show  the  purity  of 
those  holy  virgins  present,  and  between  the 
rod  of  Aaron,  putting  forth  leaves  and  fruit. 
A  writer  adds  :  "quia  ilia  quae  per  eandem 
virgam  prsesignabatur,  et  virgo  simul  et 
mater  fuit."  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga."  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 
xxviii.,  xxix.,  pp.  573,  574.  Also,  ibid, 
"Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidae,"  sees.  8,  9,  p. 
575'  "Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,"  cap. 
iii.,  p.  519. 

55  This  is  alluded  to  in  our  saint's  various 
offices,  and  it  is  generally  stated,  such  a 
miracle  reconciled  her  parents  to  that  happy 
choice  of  life  she  had  made.  Also,  it  is  re- 
lated, in  tlie  "Chronica  Generalis  Mundi," 
and  by  Petrus  de  Natalibus. 

5*  See  Exodus,  xiii.,  21,  22. 

57  Numerical  accounts  vary.  Colgan  ob- 
serves, that  in  the  Irish  Life  of  our  saint, 
cap.  xiii.,  in  the  Fifth  Life,  even  in  this  same 
Third  Life,  and  in  every  account  of  St. 
Brigid,  seven  other  virgins  are  described  as 
having  been  veiled  with  her. 


February  i.]        UVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


59 


of  St.  Brigid  states,  that  she  was  veiled  in  the  territory  of  Feratulach  ;59  while 
Mel  and  Melchu  lived  in  a  town  of  Medi  or  Midio.^°  Regarding  the  fore- 
going incidents  of  our  saint's  life,  in  rather  a  different  manner,  the  Sixth  or 
Hexamater  Life  of  this  holy  virgin  presents  us  with  another  narrative.^^ 
However,  notwithstanding  apparent  inconsistencies,  Colgan  is  of  opinion, 
that  the  latter  may  also  be  reconciled  with  former  statements  ;  for,  as  this 
illustrious  virgin  was  to  be  espoused  to  Christ,  might  not  St.  Patrick  have 
entrusted  the  charge  of  such  an  office  to  his  disciple  and  nephew.  Bishop 
Mel,^^  and  might  not  the  latter  have  deputed  it  to  his  disciple  St.  Maccalleus  ? 
Thus,  to  each  of  them  might  be  attributed  a  part  in  the  ceremony  of  veiling, 
although  it  be  immediately  and  properly  referable  to  the  ministry  of  St. 
Maccalleus.^3 

Some  modem  Anglo-Scottish  writers,  taking  Hector  Boece^-^  as  guide, 
relate,  that  our  St.  Brigid  of  Kildare  was  veiled  by  St.  Macchilla,  Bishop  of 
Sodor,  in  the  Isle  of  Mona,^s  or  Man,  about  the  year  443.  But,  the  casual 
affinity  of  name  seems  to  have  occasioned  this  error.  As  already  seen,  the 
bishop  who  veiled  St.  Brigid  was  called  Maccalle  or  Maccalleus  ;  while,  the 
Bishop  of  Sodor — that  being  the  episcopal  see  of  the  Isle  of  Man — is  called 
Machaldus  and  Magiul,  by  Joceline,^^  Mac-fill  by  Probus,^7  and  Mac-Cuill 
in  an  Irish  MS.  of  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.^^  Although  both  of  those  persons 
alluded  to  had  been  bishops  and  flourished  in  St.  Patrick's  time  ;  it  is  certain, 
that  this  Maccullius  or  Macaldus,  Bishop  of  Sodor  or  Man,  was  altogether 
different  from  St.  Maccalleus,^9  the  consecrator  of  St.  Brigid,  not  only  in  re- 
ference to  time,  place  and  acts,  but,  even  as  regards  the  name.  Differences 
between  them  in  point  of  time  show  that  they  must  be  distinguished.  For 
St.  Maccalleus,7°  the  consecrator  of  St.  Brigid,  was  bishop  before  he  veiled 


5^  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  MS.  Life, 
not  only  is  it  stated,  that  St.  Brigid  went  to 
take  the  veil  from  Bishop  Mel,  but  it  is  even 
asserted,  he  bestowed  on  her  the  honour  of 
a  bishop,  ' '  above  all  other  women,  so  that 
it  is  the  honour  of  a  bishop  the  men  of  Erin 
give  to  the  successor  of  St.  Brigid  ever  since," 
pp.  17,  18.  Such  account  indicates  great 
antiquity  for  this  Irish  Life.  However,  it 
must  be  remarked,  that  St.  Brigid  received 
confirmation  from  St.  Mel,  and  hence  pro- 
bably arose  some  confusion  between  his  hav- 
ing conferred  orders  and  the  veil  on  this 
pious  virgin,  as  stated  by  some  old  writers. 
See  "  Obits  and  Martyrology  of  the  Cathe- 
dral Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  edited  by 
John  Clarke  Crosthwaite  and  Dr.  James 
Henthom  Todd.  Introduction,  p.  xcviii., 
and  n.  (y),  ibid. 

59  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  MS. 
Life  it  is  called  Tealach  Midhe,  pp.  17,  18. 

^°  By  this  is  probably  to  be  understood, 
the  district  of  the  Methians  in  Ultonia.  See 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri- 
gidse,  cap.  xviii.,  and  nn.   12,   13,  pp.  529, 

543- 

^^  The  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid  in  the 
Leabhar  Breac  likewise  renders  some  por- 
tions of  it  different  from  that  in  the  Book  of 
Lismore.  In  the  latter  we  read  from  Pro- 
fessor O'Looney's  English  translation  :  **  On 
the  eighth  hour  Brigid  was  born,  and  on  a 
particular  Wednesday  in  the  eighteenth 
[year  of  her  age]  she  took  the  veil,  in  the 


eightieth  [year  of  her  age]  she  went  into 
heaven.  On  the  eighth,  Brigid  was  conse- 
crated under  the  eight  beatitudes  [foods]  of 
the  Gospel,  which  she  fulfilled,  and  the  food 
of  mercy  is  what  Brigid  used  to  call  them," 
pp.  17,  18. 

^^  See  on  this  subject.  Rev.  James  Hen- 
thorn  Todd's  "  St.  Patrick,  Apostle  of  Ire- 
land." Introductory  Dissertation,  pp.  11 
to  14. 

^3  As  the  native  word  mac  signifies  a  son, 
hence  lirechan,  who  wrote  St.  Patrick's 
Acts  a  thousand  years  before  Colgan's  time, 
when  speaking  of  a  certain  church  founded 
by  the  Irish  Apostle,  in  the  southern  part  of 
Meath,  observes,  "in  qua  S.  Brigida  pallium 
caepit  sub  manibus  filii  Caille  in  Uisnech 
Midhe." 

^4  See  "Historia  Scotorum,"  lib.  ix.,  fol. 
158. 

^s  According  to  Camerarius,  the  sepulchre 
of  the  Scottish  kings  was  in  the  Island  of 
Mona.  See  "  De  Statu  Hominis,  veteris 
simul  ac  novae  Ecclesiae,  et  Sanctis  Regni 
Scotise  ;"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  sec.  ii.,  p.  141. 

^^  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Sexta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap.  cli.  p.  98. 

^7  See  ibid.  Vita  S.  Patricii,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 
X.,  p.  53- 

^8  Lib.  iii.,  cap.  35. 

^9  He  was  a  disciple  to  St.  Mel  and  to 
Melchu,  the  nephews  of  St.  Patrick. 

7°  He  lived,  died  and  was  venerated  in  a 
part  of  Leinster,  called  Ifalge,  in  a  place 


6o 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


her,7^  and  he  died  in  the  year  489.7^  But,  St.  MacCuill  or  Maccaldus,  after- 
wards Bishop  of  Man,  it  is  stated,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  baptized, 
much  less  consecrated  as  bishop,  when  St.  Brigid  had  been  veiled.73  Be- 
sides, circumstances  of  their  Hves  and  deaths,  their  acts  and  the  places  in 
which  they  flourished,  evidence  their  non-identity. 

Brogan  Cloen  states,74  that  Maccalleus  placed  the  veil  over  St.  Brigid's 
head  -p  while  the  Calendar  of  Cashel  and  Maguire76  corroborate  such  an 
account.  By  both  the  latter,  too,  are  we  informed,77  that  this  holy  man  had 
been  venerated  at  Cruachan  Brigh-eile,72  now  Croghan  Hill, 79  in  the  former 
territory  of  Hy-Failge  or  OiTaly.^°  In  like  manner,  Tirechan  and  Cogitosus^' 
assert,  that  the  virgin  received  her  religious  dress,  at  the  hands  of  Bishop 
Maccalle.^^  To  one  well  versed  in  the  Irish  language,  it  will  be  found,  that 
both  names,  Maccalle  and  Macald  are  distinct,  although  from  their  ambiguity, 
or  supposed  affinity,  they  have  led  Avriters  to  confound  St.  Maccalleus  with 
St.  Maccaldus.^3 


called  Cruachan,  as  appears  from  several 
Lives  of  St.  Brigid,  published  by  Colgan. 
In  no  writer  do  we  read  of  his  having  been 
a  robber,  in  any  part  of  Ulster,  called  Mag- 
inis,  or  that  he  there  exercised  his  vocation, 
after  St.  Brigid  had  been  veiled  and  rendered 
renowned  by  her  miracles,  or  after  St. 
Patrick  traversing  Munster  had  returned  to 
Ulster. 

71  While  Ussher  assigns  this  veiling  to 
A.D,  467,  Dr.  Lanigan  thinks  it  may  be  ad- 
mitted, that  she  Avas  professed  in  the  year 
469.  See  "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire- 
land," vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  iii.,  p.  386. 

72  As  the  ' '  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters" 
have  it  from  those  of  Senat-mac-magnus, 
of  Clonmacnoise,  and  of  the  Island. 

73  By  Ussher,  Maccaille  has  been  con- 
founded with  Maguil  or  Maccaldus,  Bishop 
of  Man.  In  this  island,  it  is  said,  likewise, 
our  saint  was  veiled.  *  See  Dr.  Lanigan's 
*'  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  sec.  iii.,  and  nn.  39,  40,  pp.  386, 
388. 

7*  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
Hymnus,  seu  Prima  Vita  S.  Brigida;,  p.  515. 

75  Regarding  St.  Brigid's  virtues  and  mira- 
cles, a  short  time  after  this  holy  virgin's 
death,  we  find  the  following  Latin  version 
of  his  Irish  Hymn  : — 

"  Posuit  avibas  Maccalleus  velum 
Super  caput  SanctK  Brigidaj 
Clarus  est  in  ejus  gestis  ; 
In  coelo  exaudita  est  ejus  petitio 
Deum  precor  in  omnibus  adversis, 
Modis  omnibus,  quibus  valet  os  meum, 
Profundiorem  pelago,  magnifice  prsedi- 

cabilem. 
Trinum  et  Unum.     Veridica  narratio." 
^Ibid. 

76  Commenting  on  St.  Angus'  "  Festi- 
logy,"  he  calls  it  "the  white  veil." 

77  At  the  28th  of  April. 

78  In  a  letter,  dated  Tullamore,  January 
4th,  1838,  John  O'Donovan  identifies  Crua- 
chan Bri  Eile  with  the  present  conspicuous 
Hill  of  Croghan,  in  the  parish  of  Croghan, 
and  in  the  barony  of  Lower  Philipslown. 


It  lay  within  the  ancient  territory  of  Ofalia. 
It  rises  on  the  confines  of  ancient  Meath 
and  Leinster.  See  "Letters  containing 
Information  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of 
the  King's  County,  collected  during  the 
Progress  of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837," 
vol.  i.,  pp.  104  to  115. 

79  On  the  very  summit  of  Croghan  Hill  is 
a  small  moat  or  sepulchral  tu??iulus.  This 
seems  to  have  been  the  monument  of  Congal, 
alluded  to  in  the  "  Laoidh  na  Leacht,"  or 
Poem  of  the  Monuments. 
teAcc  ConJAibe, 

^o^  "btM   Gile  i\o   yvoencA. 
— Ibid.,  p.  no. 

^°  From  the  top  or  moat  on  Croghan  Hill, 
the  whole  level  plain  or  ctiiyv  of  Ofalia  and 
its  natural  boundaries  may  be  seen  at  aglance. 
It  stretches,  nearly  as  level  as  a  lake  south- 
wards, to  the  foot  of  the  Slieve  Bloom  Moun- 
tains, and  to  the  Sugar  Loaf  shaped  Hills,  at 
Killone,  in  the  Queen's  County,  and  east- 
wards to  the  Hill  of  Allen,  in  Kildare 
county.  See  ibid.,  p.  112.  Dr.  O'Donovan 
describes  the  extent  of  this  territory,  which 
he  illustrates  with  hand-drawn  maps  from 
pp.  24  to  47,  ibid. 

^'  He  calls  it  "a  white  one."  See  Col- 
gan's "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Secunda 
Vita  S.  Brigidae,"  cap.  iii.,  p.  519. 

^'  We  have  already  seen,  that  the  Irish 
Marty rologists  name  the  saint  venerated  at 
the  25th  of  April  Maccaille,  i.e.,  filius  Caille. 
Colgan  remarks,  that  Alac  signifies  son,  and 
Caille  is  either  the  proper  name  of  a  man, 
or  if  it  be  appellative,  it  has  the  signification 
of  a  veil :  so  that  in  Latin,  Mac-caille  could 
be  rendered  filius  veli,  he  having  obtained 
such  a  name  perhaps,  from  the  circumstance 
of  his  having  veiled  St.  Brigid. 

^i  The  Bishop  of  Man,  m  St.  Patrick's 
Irish  Life  and  elsewhere,  is  called  Mac- 
cuille  ;  by  Probus  Mac  fill  or  Mac/ail ;  and 
by  Joceline  he  is  named  Macaldus,  in  Latin  ; 
thus  by  use  of  the  single  c,  it  seems  to  be 
supposed,  that  in  Irish,  he  was  called  Ma- 
caill  or  Mac-aild.  The  Irish  word  Call^ 
which  in  the  genetive  case  becomes  Cuilly 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


6i 


The  profession  of  St.  Brigid  is  held  to  have  occurred  a.d.  46 7,^-*  or 
possibly  A.D.  469.^5  That  our  Apostle  St.  Patrick^^  officiated  on  this  occa- 
sion^7  has  been  affirmed  by  such  writers  as  John  Brampton^^  and  Henry  of 
Marlborough. ^9  According  to  another  account,9°  she  was  veiled  by  two  holy 
bishops,  who  were  disciples  of  St.  Patrick.  In  his  Life  of  the  saint,  Ultan 
relates,  that  she  received  the  veil  from  Bishop  Mel,9'  a  disciple  of  St. 
Patrick  ;92  and  the  same  statement  is  to  be  found  among  her  other  acts,  in 
the  Irish  language.  This  representation  has  been  adopted  by  Harris.93 
However,  the  story  about  St.  Mel  of  Ardagh  having  veiled  her  is  contra- 
dicted by  the  best  authorities,  and  it  is  not  even  worthy  of  refutation,  in  Dr. 
Lanigan's  opinion.94  It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  we  have  not  on  record  the  exact 
name  of  that  church,95  in  which  St.  Brigid  made  her  religious  profession. 
Cruachan  Brigh-eile  it  is  usually  called. 9<5  From  the  account  left  us  by 
Cogitosus,  that  church97  would  seem  to  have  been  renowned  for  religious 
pilgrimages  in  his  day,  and  to  have  been  the  scene  of  numerous  miracles, 
wrought  on  behalf  of  the  devout  clients  of  our  saint.  Still,  this  unnoted  church 
^has  possibly  been  identified.92  It  is  thought  to  have  been  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  conspicuous  Hill  of  Croghan,99  near  Tyrrell's  Pass,  on  the  confines  of 


has  the  same  signification  as  nut ;  and  the 
word  Caill,  the  same  as  wood ;  the  word 
faol  as  wolf ;  whilst  all,  aid  or  alt  means  a 
forest.  Wherefore,  Mac-mill,  Mac-caill, 
Mac-aill  or  Mac-aild  may  have  the  signifi- 
cation oifilius  nucis,  filius  sylva:,  filius  lupi, 
ox  filius  saltus,  in  Latin  ;  as  if  the  name 
had  been  bestowed  on  him,  "ex  eo  quod  in 
sylvis  et  saltibus  latrocinia  exercebat." 
Colgan  adds,  that  these  notices  are  given 
by  him,  not  because  he  would  assert,  that 
he  had  furnished  the  right  origin  for  such 
proper  names  ;  but,  because  they  show  dif- 
ferences existing  between  them,  and  may  be 
adopted,  until  better  interpretations  or  de- 
rivations are  offered.  With  those  two  names 
of  the  saints  in  question,  and  from  many  ap- 
pellatives of  saints  in  Ireland,  which  com- 
mence with  Mac,  scarcely  one — at  least 
adopting  its  etymological  origin — can  be 
considered  a  name  proper  to  whom  it  may 
be  applied,  but  many  are  conventional. 

^'^  See  Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesi- 
arum  Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvi.,  p.  336. 
Also,  Index  Chronologicus,  A.D.  CCCCLXVII. 

^5  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  section 
iii.,  p.  386. 

^^Joceline  relates,  that  St.  Brigid  was 
present  at  a  sermon  of  St.  Patrick,  in  a 
place  called  Finnabhair.  Afterwards,  St. 
Patrick  went  to  Munster,  where,  as  well  as 
in  other  Irish  provinces,  he  spent  nine 
years.  See  Sexta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap. 
xciv.,  xcv.,  pp.  86,  87.  Colgan's  "Trias 
Thaumaturga." 

^7  Some  writers  place  St.  Patrick's  death 
so  early  as  a.d.  458,  while  others  say  that 
he  lived  until  A.D.  493.  See  "  Life  of  St. 
Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  p. 
28. 

^^  See  "  Historia  Joronalensis,"  ad  ann. 
I185. 

^9  In  his  "  Chronicle,"  at  A.D.  493. 


9°  See  "  Hystorie  plurimorum  Sanctorum 
noviter  et  laboriose  ex  diversis  libris  col- 
lecte."     Louvanii,  A.D,  1485,  4to. 

9^  See,  in  reference  to  this  account,  "The 
Book  of  Obits  and  Martyrology  of  the  Ca- 
thedi-al  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  edited 
by  John  Clarke  (^rosthwaite  and  Rev.  James 
Henthorn  Todd,  Introduction,  pp.  xcvi^ 
to  cii.,  with  accompanying  notes. 

52  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap.  xviii.,  p.  519. 

93  See  Harris'  Ware.  Vol,  iii,,  "  Writers 
of  Ireland,"  book  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  12. 

94  He  adds  :  "  It  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Third  Life  (cap.  18),  with  the  author  of 
which  Mel  appears  to  have  been  a  great  fa- 
vourite  Yet,  however 

partial  to  Mel,  it  mentions  Maccaille,  but 
makes  him  a  disciple  of  Mel,  and  represents 
him  as  introducing  St.  Brigid  to  him." — 
"  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  sec.  iii.,  p.  388. 

95  In  the  Second  Life,  it  is  stated,  while 
the  saint  made  her  vows  to  heaven,  she 
touched  a  wooden  support,  on  which  its 
altar  rested,  Cogitosus  says,  in  his  time, 
this  wood  was  Still  green,  as  if  it  had  not 
been  cut  down  and  barked,  but  had  yet  re- 
mained attached  to  its  roots  and  growing, 

9^  Bri  Eile  or  Croghan  was  the  church  of 
St,  Maccaille,  See  "Letters  containing 
Information  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of 
the  King's  County,  collected  during  the 
Progress  of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837." 
John  O'Donovan's  letter  dated  TuUamore, 
January  4th,  1838,  p.  112. 

97  This  was  "in  the  city  Medi."  See 
Bishop  Forbes'  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish 
Saints,"  p.  288. 

98  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  n.  (m),  p.  152. 

99  The  parish  of  Croghan  is  described  on 
the  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for 
the  King's  County."    Sheets  3,    10.     On 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


the  King's  County  and  Westmeath.  No  church  at  present  marks  this  site, 
but  a  frequented  graveyard  is  to  be  seen  on  the  spot  indicated.  The  place 
itself  is  elevated  and  greatly  exposed  to  the  action  of  passing  winds.  It  would 
seem,  according  to  another  opinion,  that  our  saint  received  her  religious  habit 
at  Huisneach  Midi,'°°  usually  supposed  to  have  been  identical  with  Usny 
Hill.'°'  According  to  Tirechan,  Maccaille  was  then  at  this  place,'°^  which, 
although  not  his  usual  residence,  was  probably  comprised  within  his  ecclesi- 
astical district.'°3  Likely,  also,  the  church  had  been  built  of  wood,  and  had 
not  suffered  from  fire,  down  to  the  time,  in  which  Cogitosus  wTote.  This 
accident  occurred,  however,  before  the  Latin  Hexameter  or  Sixth  Life  of 
our  saint  had  been  composed.  Allusion  is  there  made  to  the  miraculous 
circumstance  regarding  that  portion  of  the  altar,  touched  by  the  holy  virgin, 
having  escaped  conflagration. 

Although  certain  writers  have  assumed,  that  St.  Brigid  made  her  religious 
profession  so  early  as  her  fourteenth  year  •,^'"<  yet,  nothing  has  appeared  in 
evidence  to  sustain  this  opinion.  It  is  true,  before  the  passing  of  a  decree, 
at  the  Council  of  Trent,  that  age  was  deemed  sufficient  for  receiving  the 
veil.  Hector  Boece'°s  seems  therefore  to  have  inferred  St.  Brigid's  earliest 
acceptance  of  her  privilege. ^°^  On  this  subject,  a  more  reliable  authority 
declares,  St.  Brigid  must  have  been  at  least  sixteen  years  old,  at  the  period  of 
her  consecration,  as  in  those  times,  that  was  the  earliest  age,  compatible  with 
the  perfomiance  of  such  a  ceremony.  It  is  probable,  she  had  attained  this  latter 
age,  at  least,  as  her  parents  considered  her  marriageable,  at  a  time  she  ex- 
pressed her  preference  for  the  state  of  virginity.  In  the  early  ages,  conse- 
crated virgins  lived  with  their  friends,  and  discharged  the  ordinary  household 
duties.  Afterwards,  it  was  found  more  desirable  they  should  live  in  com- 
munity. Strict  enclosure  was  of  a  later  date,  and  it  was  gradually  introduced 
among  the  religious  houses.  It  is  needless  to  state,  how  much  it  has  con- 
duced to  promote  sanctity  in  such  holy  institutions. '''7 

Maccaille  is  said  to  have  clothed  her  with  a  white  cloak^°^  and  to  have 
placed  a  white  garment  or  veil  over  her  head.  Relating  like  circumstances, 
Tirechan  says,  that  she  received  the  pallium  from  Mac-Cuille  or  Maccaille. 
It  is  worth  while  remarking,  the  dress  of  ancient  nuns  was  white  ;  nor  were 
there  any  distinct  orders  of  religious  females  in  Ireland,  until  some  centuries 
after  St.  Brigid's  time,  as  all  consecrated  women  followed  the  same  rule  she 
had  observed. '°9 

A  learned  Irish  ecclesiastical  historian"®  will  not  have  it  inferred,  that 

the  latter  maybe  traced   the  curious  anti-  iii.,  and  n.  41,  pp.  386,  388. 

quities  adjacent  to   the  ruiped  church  on  ^°^  See  "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

Croghan  Hill.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  33,  34. 

100  Xn  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  '°^  The  white  garment  of  St.  Brigid  is 
the  place  of  her  profession  is  said  to  have  mentioned  in  her  Third  Life.  See  Col- 
been  at  Tealach  Midi,  where  Bishop  Mel  gan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  Vita 
was  then  living,  pp.  17,  18.  In  other  S.  Brigidte,  cap.  108,  p.  540. 
words,  this  place  may  be  rendered  Tulach  '°9  Such  is  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Lanigan, 
Midi,  or  the  Hill  of  Meath,  who  adds  :  "  We  find  nothing  about  cutting 

'°*  In  the  present  county  of  Westmeath.  of  hair,  which  was  not  practised  in  the  pro- 

'"^  According  to  Ussher.  fession  of  holy  virgins  as  early,  or,  at  least 

'°3  See    Dr.     Lanigan's    "  Ecclesiastical  as  generally,    as   the   regulation  for  their 

History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  vii.,  sec.  wearing  a  particular  habit." — "  Ecclesias- 

^^M  P-  335-  tical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i,,  chap,  viii., 

'°*  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of  sec.  iii.,  n.  34,  p.   3S7.     He  quotes  Tille- 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  I.,  p.  17.  mont's  "  Memoires  pour  servir  a  I'Histoire 

*°s  Ussher  and  other  writers  drew  similar  Ecclesiastique,"  tomus  x.,  pp.  84  to  302  ; 

accounts  from  him.  and  Bingham's  "  Ecclesiastical  Antiquities," 

^*°*  See    Dr.    Lanigan's    "Ecclesiastical  book  vii.,  chap,  iv.,  sect.  6. 

History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  "°  Dr.  Lanigan. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


«3 


our  saint's  father  resided  in  the  ancient  province  of  Meath,  as  he  is  con- 
stantly called  a  Leinsterman.  According  to  the  same  writer,  he  seems  to 
have  lived  not  far  from  Kildare,  where  Brigid  afterwards  founded  her  nun- 
nery.'" The  reason  why  she  had  recourse  to  Maccaille  was  probably,  be- 
cause he  was  then  the  nearest  bishop  to  her  father's  house ;  and,  as  the  con- 
secration of  virgins  was  reserved  to  the  episcopal  order,  a  priest  could  not 
receive  her  profession.  It  is  a  matter  of  considerable  difficulty  to  determine 
the  place,  where  the  holy  virgin  first  established  her  religious  house.  Accord- 
ing to  a  local  tradition,  we  find  it  stated,  St.  Brigid  and  her  sister  lived  in 
Faughard  Church."^  This,  however,  is  unreliable.  Another  opinion  has 
been  offered,"^  that  our  saint  founded  her  first  religious  establishment  in 
that  part  of  the  King's  County,  which  formerly  belonged  to  the  ancient  pro- 
vince of  Meath,  as  may  be  conjectured  from  its  having  been  not  far  from 
Usneach  or  Usny  hill,"^  where  Brigid  received  her  veil.  The  place  is 
spoken  of,  as  being  surrounded  by  the  towns  -of  Meath.  "s  Usny  hill"'^  is 
not  far  distant  from  the  present  King's  County."7  There  Maccaille  seems 
to  have  usually  resided.  In  Fearcall,  formerly  a  part  of  Meath,  now  the 
baronies  of  Ballycowen  and  Ballyboy,"^  in  the  King's  County,  there  was 
a  place  called  Rath-brighide,  i.e.  Brigidstown."9  Dr.  Lanigan  supposes,  St. 
Brigid's  dwelling  was  either  about  that  district,  or  in  an  adjoining  one  of 


"'  "  In  the  Fourth  Life  (L.  2  c.  3)  it  is  said 
that  after  an  absence  of  some  duration,  she 
returned  to  her  own  country,  that  is,  to  the 
district  where  her  relatives  resided,  and  that 
in  said  tract  a  place  was  assigned  to  her  for 
erecting  a  monastery  for  holy  virgins,  after- 
wards called  Kill-dara." — "Ecclesiastical 
History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  viii.,  §  iii.,  and 
n.  37,  PP-  385,  388. 

"^  Tradition  states,  that  it  is  likewise 
called  Cilt  mtii|Ae,  or  "the  Church  of 
Mary."  See  "Louth  Letters,  containing 
Information  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of 
the  County,  collected  during  the  Progress 
of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1835,"  vol.  i., 
p.  287. 

"3  By  Dr.  Lanigan. 

"4  It  lies  about  four  miles  north-west  from 
the  Castletown  station  of  the  Midland  Rail- 
way, and  in  the  county  of  Westmeath.  The 
hill  is  a  long  swelling  green  eminence,  ly- 
ing east  and  west.  It  has  never  been  sub- 
mitted to  the  plough.  It  has  two  summits, 
and  the  eastern  one  is  occupied  by  an  an- 
cient cemetery.  A  broad  avenue  formerly 
led  to  it  from  the  south,  and  the  lines  of  this 
are  still  traceable  on  the  green  sward.  With 
the  exception  of  the  Cat  Stone,  and  some 
smaller  earth-works,  on  the  lower  part  of  its 
eastern  slope,  no  other  structural  works  re- 
main on  the  hill.  See  "  Proceedings  of  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy,"  second  series,  vol.  i., 
No.  7.  A  paper  (xvii.)  read  by  Samuel 
Ferguson,  LL.D.,  Vice  President,  February 
26,  1872,  "On  Ancient  Cemeteries  at 
Rathcroghan  and  elsewhere  in  Ireland  (as 
affecting  the  question  of  the  Site  of  the 
Cemetery  at  Taltin),"  p.  118. 

"5  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidas,  cap,  xxi,,  p,  529. 

"*  Interesting  engravings,  representing  a 


ground  plan  of  Usneach  cemetery,  and  a 
sectional  part  of  its  upper  surface,  are  pre- 
sented by  Dr,  Ferguson,  in  the  paper  to 
which  allusion  has  been  already  made.  The 
principal  cemetery  enclosure  is  an  irregular 
circle,  or  rather  a  square,  with  the  angles 
rounded  off,  being  about  250  feet  in  dia- 
meter. Subsidiary  to  this,  there  is  on  the 
western  side  an  annexe  of  the  same  general 
outline.  This  is  about  180  feet  in  diameter. 
There  appears  to  have  been  a  five-fold  par- 
tition in  the  enclosures.  Each  division  con- 
tains tumuli,  and  some  of  these  seem  to  have 
been  erected  on  the  intersection  of  demarka- 
tion  mounds.  All  have  been  opened.  In 
the  western  division,  the  mouth  of  a  cave 
has  been  exposed.  Other  holes  in  the  sur- 
face show  where  the  roofing  stones  have 
filled  up  passages.  These  mounds  and  tu- 
muli are  exhibited  on  the  ground  plans. 
See  pp,  119,  120. 

"7  In  his  account  of  the  parish  of  Conra, 
Dr.  O'Donovan  gives  some  notices  of  Cnoc 
tlipiij,  or  the  Hill  of  Usneach,  on  which 
the  pagan  monarch  Tuathal  Teachtmhar 
erected  a  longphort  in  the  second  century. 
See  "Letters  containing  Information  re- 
lative to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County  of 
Westmeath,  collected  during  the  Progress  of 
the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837,"  vol.  i. 
Letter  of  John  O'Donovan,  dated  Bally- 
more,  Lough  Sewdy,  September  17th,  1837, 
pp.  117  to  125. 

"^  This  place  has  been  improperly  con- 
founded with  St.  Brigid's  Town  in  "  The  Life 
of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii., 

p.  34- 

"9  This  conjectural  statement  of  Dr. 
Lanigan  has  been  unreservedly  adopted  as  a 
correct  one,  in  "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by 
an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  p.  34. 


64 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


Westmeath."°  As  in  the  immediately  subsequent  events  of  St.  Brigid's 
career,  the  great  central  territory  of  Teathbha,  or  Teffia,^"^^  is  frequently  men- 
tioned, it  seems  likely  enough,  her  first  religious  house  was  situated  either 
within  that  district,  or  at  least  in  a  not  very  remote  situation  from  it.  Per- 
haps, owing  to  the  recorded  intimacy  and  friendship  between  herself  and 
Bishop  Mel,  her  community,  at  first,  was  under  his  supervision  and  guardian- 


I 


Old  Church  Rums  at  Ardagli. 


ship,  and  it  may  have  been  at  Ardagh,  where  at  present  a  very  ancient 
ruined  church  is  shown.  "^  It  is  one  of  the  most  cyclopean  and  archaic 
type."3  The  door-way  was  perfect,  but  remarkably  low.'^^'J  Also,  it  must 
be  observed,  that  a  very  prevailing  popular  tradition  associates  St.  Brigid 
with   St.  Mel,  as  a  chief  patroness  of  the  Ardagh  diocese, "s  and  a  holy 


'^  He  adds,  that  we  may  find  a  Tegh- 
brighide,  or  Brigid's  house,  in  Kinel-fiacha 
/.6'.,  the  country  about  Kilbeggan.  See 
'*  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  sec.  iii.,  and  n.  47,  pp.  386, 
389. 

_"'  This  territory,  called  Teffa,  in  Certani's 
Life  of  the  Saint,  lay  north  and  south  of 
the  Ethne  or  Inny  river.  The  former,  in  St. 
Patrick's  time,  included  the  greater  part  of 
the  present  County  Longford,  and  the  latter 
the  western  half  of  Westmeath  County.  See 
"  The  Topographical  Poems  of  John  O'Dub- 
hagain  and  Giolla  na  naomh  O'Huidhrin." 
Edited  by  John  O' Donovan,  LL.D.,  p.  ix. 

"^^  The  greater  number  of  its  stones  are 
eight  feet  long.  These  ruins  are  to  be  seen 
at  the  south-east  angle  of  a  modern  grave- 


yard. See  letter  of  John  O'Donovan,  dated 
Edgeworthstown,  May  i8th,  1837.  "Letters 
and  Extracts  containing  Information  relative 
to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County  of  Long* 
ford,  collected  during  the  Progress  of  the 
Ordnance  Survey  in  1837,"  p.  39. 

'-3  This  has  been  sketched  by  George  I)e 
Noyer,  and  it  is  to  be  found  among  the  folio 
drawings  in  the  Royal  Irish  ^Vcademy's 
Library.  It  has  been  thence  transferred  to 
the  wood  and  engraved  by  Mr.  Gregor  Grey 
of  Dublin  for  this  work. 

"■♦  In  1837.  The  church  itself  was  never 
very  large. 

'^s  Such  information  the  writer  has  re- 
ceived from  Very  Rev.  Thomas  Canon 
Monaghan,  P.P.,  LoughdufT,  in  the  Diocese 
of  Ardagh. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  65 


well"^  dedicated  to  her  is  to  be  seen  near  the  town  of  Ardagh."7  In  one 
of  our  saint's  lives,  we  are  told,  that  the  bishop,"^  who  received  her  reli- 
gious profession,  prepared  a  suitable  place  for  her  monastic  habitation,"^  and 
presented  her  with  so  many  cows,  as  there  were  members  in  her  commu- 
nity.'3°  When  she  and  her  sisters  took  possession  of  their  dwelling,  St.  Brigid 
applied  herself  anew  to  labours,  to  vigils,  to  fasting,  to  prayer  and  to  divine 
contemplation.  Thus,  she  endeavoured  to  advance  in  the  narrow  paths  of 
perfection,  on  which  she  had  already  entered.  Although  excelling  others,  in 
station  and  merits,  yet  would  she  manifest  her  humility,  by  claiming  to  be  an 
associate  merely  in  that  society  she  had  founded.  By  her  example  and 
encouragement,  she  induced  many  ladies  to  embrace  the  most  sublime 
practices  of  a  religious  profession.  ^31  The  bishop  and  people  of  the  district, 
in  which  she  lived,  felt  delighted  with  her  sojourn  in  that  place.  Even  they 
showed  themselves  more  desirous  ot  contributing  to  relieve  the  corporal 
wants  of  the  community  established,  than  these  religious  were  to  receive 
their  gifts.  If  any  superfluities  remained,  these  were  bounteously  bestowed 
on  the  poor,  by  the  holy  superioress,  and  according  to  the  measure  of  their 
necessities.  ^32 

On  a  certain  day,  Maccaille  invited  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns  to  a  banquet. 
But,  when  the  table  had  been  laid,  and  the  viands  placed  thereon,  the  holy 
virgin  entreated  that  bishop  to  refresh  the  minds  of  his  guests  with  spiritual, 
before  they  should  partake  of  corporal,  food.  To  this  request  he  willingly 
assented,  and  exercised  his  eloquence,  by  taking  as  the  subject  of  his  dis- 
course our  Divine  Lord's  exhortation  from  the  mount.  He  dwelt  on  the 
various  virtues  of  a  Christian,  and  especially  on  those  eight  Beatitudes,  by 
which  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  secured.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  discourse, 
St.  Brigid  said  to  her  nuns  :  "  My  dearly-beloved  sisters  in  Christ,  we  are  in 
number  eight  virgins,  and  eight  virtues  are  proposed  to  us  for  your  obser- 
vance and  sanctification.  Although,  whoever  has  one  virtue,  in  a  perfect 
degree,  must  necessarily  possess  many  other  religious  excellencies,  as  every 


"•*  There  is  no  well  in  the  parish  of  Ar-  lions  eight,  although  a  few  lines  before  it 

dagh  dedicated  to  St.  Mel,  and  it  is  strange  states  that  St.  Brigid  set  out  from  her  father's 

that  St.  Brigid  is  the  patron.  Her  holy  well,  house  with  only  three  of  them.     It  seems 

called  Toberbride,  lies  in  the  townland  of  that  when  they  arrived  at  the  place  where 

Banghill.      See  John    O'Donovan's  letter,  the  bishop  was,  they  met  four  or  five  other 

dated  Edgeworthstown,    May    i8th,    1837.  postulants."— Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical 

"  Letters  and  Extracts  containing  Informa-  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec 

tion  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County  iii.,  n.  44,  pp.  388,  389. 
of  Longford,  collected  during  the  Progress  '3i  «<  in  the  first  ages  of  Christianity  in 

of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837,"  pp^  38,  Ireland,  circumstances  did  not  warrant  the 

39,  strict  enclosure,  nay,  it  was  not  enforced  in 

"7  This  well  and  the  old  church  are  noted  any  part  of  the  Church  ;  and  consequently 

on  the  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  Brigid  and  her  companions  lived  in  com- 

for  the  County  of  Longford."     Sheet  19.  munity,  under  a  certain  rule,  without  being 

"8  See  the   "  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  bound  to  remain  within  the  precincts  of  their 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  p.  35.  convent. "—"  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

"9  In  the  Third  Life,  it  is  stated,  that  the  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  p.  34. 
eight  virgins,  veiled  with  St.  Brigid,  and  '3^  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
their  parents,  said  to  her,  "  Do  not  leave  us,  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xxx.,  p.  574. 
but  remain  with  us,  and  occupy  a  dwelling  In  the  Breviary  of  the  Canons  Regular  of 
in  this  place."  Then,  we  are  told,  Brigid  Lateran,  it  is  said,  so  many  virgins  were  in- 
remained  with  them.  See  Colgan's  "Trias  duced  to  imitate  St.  Brigid's  example  after 
Thaumaturga."  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  her  profession,  that  in  a  short  time  Ireland 
cap.  18,  p.  529.  was  filled  with  rehgious  houses  of  nims, 

^3°  The  distinctive  number  of  holy  women,  while  the  house  in  which  our  saint  lived  was 

that  first  joined  St.  Brigid,  has  been  thus  the  principal  one  on  which  all  the  rest  were 

reconciled.      "The  Fifth    Life    {cap.    28,  dependent. 
seq.)  has  seven;  the  third  {cap.  18)  men- 

VOL.  II.— No.  2.  F 


66  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS       [February  i. 


single  virtue  is  bound  up  and  connected  with  one  of  a  different  kind  ;  how- 
ever, let  each  of  you  select  whatever  particul-ar  beatitude  you  may  desire 
for  your  special  devotion/'  This  injunction  pleased  ail  the  holy  sisterhood, 
and  they  asked  their  superioress  to  make  her  first  choice  of  a  virtue,  as  she 
held  a  first  position  among  them.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  St.  Brigid 
selected  Mercy  for  her  particular  practice.  However,  although  she  culti- 
vated this  beatitude,  because  she  considered  without  it,  that  all  other  virtues 
must  be  inefficacious  or  of  little  account ;  yet,  day  and  night  she  ceased  not 
the  performance  of  other  meritorious  actions,  connected  with  her  high 
vocation.  Her  religious  sisters  also  applied  themselves  with  constancy  and 
fervour  to  their  sanctification,  through  that  virtue  of  their  special  choice ; 
nor  did  they  relax  in  their  eff'orts,  until  rewards  promised  for  their  holy  am- 
bition were  received.  Having  thus  refreshed  their  souls  with  aliment  of  the 
Divine  word,  on  invitation  of  Bishop  Maccaille,  they  partook  of  those 
viands  placed  before  them.  Thenceforth,  it  was  the  constant  habit  of  St. 
Brigid,  during  the  whole  course  of  her  life,  never  to  take  corporal  refresh- 
ment, until  she  had  first  fortified  her  soul  with  God's  holy  word.  ^33 

As  a  light  placed  in  a  candelabrum  cannot  be  hidden,  so  the  frequent 
recurrence  of  miracles  caused  Brigid's  fame  to  be  diffused,  through  all  parts 
of  Ireland.  Innumerable  holy  virgins  and  widows,  embracing  a  rule  of  life 
under  her  direction,  and  resolving  to  abandon  all  things  for  Christ's  sake, 
flocked  to  her  religious  fold.  Thus  God's  pious  servants  became  greatly 
multiplied.  Still  the  holy  abbess  was  particularly  solicitous  that  virtues  and 
merits  should  be  increased.  Although  moral  goodness  does  not  usually 
abound  to  a  very  exalted  degree,  except  in  large  religious  communities,  yet, 
virtue  consists  not  in  having  many  together  so  much  as  in  a  store  of  merit ; 
and  a  numerous  sodality  is  not  so  much  to  be  admired  as  a  fervent  one. 
Neither  should  it  be  a  desirable  object,  for  many  to  live  in  community,  un- 
less they  are  sanctified  by  the  practice  of  distinguished  virtues.  Through 
her  illustrious  example  and  precepts,  our  holy  abbess  urged  her  sisters  to 
advance  from  one  grade  of  perfection  to  another ;  with  argument,  by  en- 
treaty and  by  the  exercise  of  authority,  she  withdrew  those  who  were  frail 
from  their  errors  ;  while  she  manifested  the  liberality  of  her  disposition,  in  a 
care  for  the  poor.  She  even  deprived  her  monastery  of  means  necessary 
for  the  support  of  its  inmates,  with  a  view  of  releasing  from  want  many  suf- 
fering members  of  Jesus  Christ. ^34  On  a  certain  day,  three  religious  pilgrims 
visited  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns.  These  were  regaled  with  bacon  and  other 
food.  Yet,  not  wishing  to  eat  the  three  different  portions  of  bacon  set 
before  them,  they  secreted  this  meat,  while  partaking  of  other  refreshments. 
On  the  succeeding  day,  St.  Brigid  saluted  them,  and  requested  them  to  see 
that  food  they  had  concealed.  Then  they  found,  that  their  three  portions  of 
flesh  meat  had  been  changed  into  so  many  loaves  of  bread.  At  another 
time,  two  of  those  men  were  about  to  engage  in  manual  labour,  while  the 
other,  and  the  youngest,  remained  in  the  house.  St.  Brigid  asked  this  latter 
man  why  he  did  not  go  out  of  doors  to  work  with  his  companions.  The 
stranger  replied,  that  he  wanted  the  use  of  one  hand.  On  examination, 
Brigid  found  such  to  be  the  case.  Immediately  she  restored  it  to  a  condi- 
tion, which  enabled  him  to  engage  with  his  comrades  in  their  out-door  em- 
ployment.'3s    The  Acts  of  this  holy  woman  abound  in  such  wonders. 


*33/3;V/.,  cap.  xxxi.,  p.  574.  Libro  Terzo,  pp.  170  to  176. 

^^  Ibid.,  cap.  xxxii.,  p.  574.     See,  also,  '3S  See   Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga.' 

Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santitii  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  xix.,  xx.,  p. 

rrodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iberaese."  529. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  67 


CHAPTER     IV. 

REMARKABLE  MANIFESTATIONS  OF  PROVIDENCE  IN  ST.  BRIGID'S  REGARD— SHE  CURE3 
MANY  DISEASED  AND  AFFLICTED  PERSONS — HER  BOUNTIES  AND  HOSPITALITY— SHE 
VISITS  ST.  IBAR — BISHOP  MEL's  RELIGIOUS  INTIMACY  WITH  ST.  BRIGID— HER 
MIRACLES  IN  THEBA  OR  TEFFIA — SAID  TO  HAVE  MET  ST.  PATRICK  AT  TAILTIN— 
HER   POWER  OVER  DEMONS. 

The  incidents  of  St.  Brigid's  life  are  differently  arranged  by  her  various 
biographers,  so  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  trace  them  out  in  succession, 
or  place  them  in  any  exact  chronological  order.  ^  By  different  writers  of  our 
Saint's  Acts,  there  are  various  miracles  ascribed  to  her ;  but,  as  the  periods 
and  places  in  which  these  occurred  are  not  usually  particularized,  it  may  be 
proper  to  comprise  within  circumscribed  limits  the  recital  of  such  super- 
natural occurrences.  However,  some  of  the  miracles  attributed  are  of  such 
a  vague  and  an  improbable  nature,  that  their  relation  may  rather  tend  to 
obscure  than  to  illustrate  her  history,  and  further  to  crowd  it  with  unauthentic 
statements. 

In  her  Life,  as  written  by  Cogitosus,  we  are  told,  that  on  a  particular 
occasion,  when  St.  Bridget  was  visited  by  some  Bishops,  who  were  her  guests, 
she  found  herself  at  a  loss  to  provide  in  a  certain  respect,  for  their  entertain- 
ment. Having  only  one  cow  to  supply  their  wants,  contrary  to  her  usual 
custom,  she  was  obliged  to  milk  this  animal,  three  different  times  during  the 
same  day.^  She  found,  notwithstanding,  as  great  a  quantity  of  milk  had 
been  furnished  by  this  animal,  as  the  three  best  of  cows  usually  produced.3 
Perhaps  then,  or  at  another  time,  a  band  of  thieves,  coming  from  a  certain 
province,  passed  over  a  river  and  stole  sorae  oxen,  belonging  to  our  Saint. 
But,  on  their  return,  the  river  became  swollen  within  its  banks  to  such  a 
degree,  that  in  attempting  to  cross  it,  those  freebooters  were  drowned,  and 
their  bodies  were  swept  down  its  course ;  while,  the  oxen,  escaping  to  its 
banks,  returned  to  the  herd  with  those  reins,  by  which  they  were  secured, 
hanging  to  their  homs.^ 

During  the  time  of  harvest,  a  day  being  appointed  for  reapers  to  assemble, 
in  order  to  cut  down  some  corn,  which  was  ripe,  and  which  belonged  to 
the  Saint;  it  so  happened,  clouds  began  to  darken,  and  afterwards  these 
dissolved  in  torrents  of  rain.  Throughout  a  whole  district,  harvest  labours 
were  necessarily  suspended,  during  the  continuance  of  those  heavy  showers ; 
still,  our  Saint's  labourers  exercised  their  vocation  a  whole  day,  from  the 
rising  to  the  setting  sun,  without  even  the  least  impediment.  Yet,  in  all  the 
neighbouring  districts,  rains  poured  down  without  cessation,  flooding  the 
whole  country  with  ponds  and  rivulets  of  water,  s 

Chapter  IV.—' See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  *  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga," 

by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  48.  Cogitosus,  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xvii.    Also, 

_  =  This  narrative  seems  somewhat  incon-  "  Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,"  sec.  27,  pp.  516, 

sistent  with  an   account  previously  given,  520.     This  circumstance  appears  to  be  re- 

that  she  received  a  cow  for  each  religious  lated  in  a  different  manner  by  Capgrave,  in 

sister  in  her  convent.      Yet,  her  bountiful  that  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  which  is  contained 

disposition  and  her  necessities  might  have  in  the  ' '  Legenda  Sanctorum  Anglise  Scotise 

diminished  the  number  of  cattle  she  then  et  Hiberniae,"  cap.  xiv. 

owned.  s  When  celebrating  the  Virtues  and  Mira- 

3  See  "Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,"  cap.  cles  of  St.  Brigid  in  his  Irish  Hymn,  St. 

vi.,  p.  519.     Also,    "Vita  Quinta  S,  Bri-  Brogan   Cloen  has  this  incident   recorded, 

gidae,"  cap.  xxxvii.,    pp.   575,    576.     This  See    "  Prima  Vita   S.  Brigidae,"   sec.    15. 

miracle  is  also  given  in  the  "  Prima  Vita  S.  Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturga,"    p.    516, 

Brigidae,"  sec.  i6,  p.  516.    Colgan's  "Trias  Cogitosus'  or  "  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae," 

Thaumaturga."  cap.  v.,  p.  519.     "Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae," 


68  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


St.  Brigid  wrought  many  miracles,  in  favour  of  persons  afflicted  with 
leprosy  and  other  diseases.^  Those  were  reheved  from  their  various  infirmi- 
ties. 7  She  restored  to  sight,  by  her  prayers,  a  man  who  was  bom  blind.^ 
The  lame  and  infirm  were  likewise  cured,  through  intervention  of  the  holy 
virgin.9  An  instance  is  recorded  regarding  a  woman,  with  her  daughter — 
only  twelve  years  of  age  and  born  dumb — coming  to  visit  our  Saint ;  the 
latter,  stooping  down  with  great  humility,  kissed  the  child,  who  exhibited  by 
her  looks  and  gesture  an  affectionate  reverence  of  manner,  which  the  virgin's 
virtues  so  well  merited.  Ignorant  concerning  that  defect  of  speech,  under 
which  the  child  laboured,  Brigid  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  addressed  some 
affectionate  and  pious  inquiries,  as  to  whether  she  designed  taking  the  veil 
or  embracing  another  mode  of  life.  Her  mother  declared,  the  daughter 
could  give  no  answer.  Brigid  rephed,  she  should  not  relinquish  that  child's 
hand,  until  an  answer  had  been  given.  Being  asked  the  question  a  second 
time,  the  girl  said,  "  I  desire  to  do  only  what  you  wish  me."  And  from  that 
time  forward,  she  spoke  without  the  least  impediment. '°  Afterwards,  she 
remained  in  a  state  of  celibacy,  to  the  very  hour  of  her  death."  According 
to  other  accounts,  St.  Brigid  had  been  approached,  in  the  first  instance, 
through  the  medium  of  another  pious  female,  named  Darlugdacha — most 
probably  one  of  her  own  nuns,  and  her  immediate  successor  in  the  govern- 
ment of  her  institute  at  Kildare."  The  mute  girl's  mother  had  secured  the 
good  offices  of  this  Darlugdacha,  or  Durlaghacha, — as  we  also  find  her 
called — on  behalf  of  the  afflicted  daughter.  The  restored  girl  afterwards 
remained  under  care  of  St.  Brigid. ^3 

Our  Saint  possessed  the  gift  of  multiplying  in  quantity  various  kinds  of 
food  and  drink,  which  she  either  touched  or  blessed.  Thus,  we  are  told, 
when  the  Paschal  or  Easter  day  was  near,  on  a  certain  time,  Brigid  wished 
to  prepare  a  banquet  for  all  the  Meathian  churches,^^  in  various  towns^s  of 
that  province,  surrounding  her  own  establishment.  There  was  a  scarcity  of 
com  prevailing  in  this  particular  district  at  the  time,  and  she  had  only  very 
limited  means  at  command  to  enable  her  to  effect  such  an  object.  The 
small  quantity  of  beer  she  possessed  was  contained  in  two  tubs,^*^  as  she  had 
no  other  vessels  to  hold  it ;  but,  this  beverage  was  divided  into  measures, 


cap.  c,  p.  540.     "QuartaVitaS.  Brigidse,"  ibid.     Also,  Camerarius,  p.  140. 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixvii.,  p.  560.     "  Quinta  Vita  9  See  Capgrave's    "Vita    S.    Brigidae," 

S.  Brigidae,"  cap.  xli.,  p.  577,  ibid.     Cap-  cap.  xviii. 

grave  also  states,  that  from  the  rising  to  the  "  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga, "  Vita  Prima 

setting  of  the  sun,  not  one  drop  of  rain  fell  S.  Brigidoe,  sec.  22,  p.  516.     Cogitosus,  or 

on   St.    Brigid's  reapers.     See    *'  Legenda  Secunda  Vita  S.   Brigidae,  cap.  xviii.,   p. 

Sanctorum  Anglise, "  &c. ,  in  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  520,  ibid. 

cap.  xxiii.,  and  also  Messingham's  "Flori-  "See   Capgrave's    "Vita  S.   Brigidae," 

legium  Insulse  Sanctorum."  This  account  is  cap.  xxv. 

contained,  likewise,  in  Petrus  de  Natalibus,  "  In  such  case,  her  festival  occurs,  also, 

in  Camerarius,  in  the  "  Chronica  Generalis  on  the  1st  of  February.     Her  acts  may  be 

Mundi,"  and  in  many  of  St.  Brigid's  Offices.  seen  immediately  succeeding  those  of  St. 

*  See  the  Lections  of  her  ancient  Ofiice,  Brigid. 
contained  in    the    Breviary  of   Aberdeen.  '3  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga," 

Bishop    Forbes'    "Kalendars    of    Scottish  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidoe,  cap.  cxxvi.,  p.  541. 

Saints,"  p.  289.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigida:,  cap.  xci. ,  p.  562,  ibid. 

7  See,  likewise,  Officium  S.    Brigidaz,    ii.  '*  This  seems  to  indicate  her  living,  with 

Noctumo,    Lect.    v.      De    Burgo's    Ofificia  her  religious,  in  the  province  or  diocese  of 

Propria  Sanctorum  Hibemiae,"  p.  12.  Also,  Meath— most  likely  in  its  western  part, 
at   the   same  day,  Supplementum   Romani  'S  From   this   statement,    we    may  infer, 

Breviarii,  as  used  in  the  Irish  Church,  Noct.  how  populous  that  district  had  been, 
ii.,  Lect.  vi.  "^  jj^  fy^o.  barrel,  according  to  Lections  of 

^  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  St.  Brigid's  Office  in  the  Breviary  of  Aber- 

Prima  Vita   S.   Brigidae,    sec.  21,   p.  516.  deen.     See  Bishop  Forbes'   "  Kalendars  of 

Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xii.,  p.  520,  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OE  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  69 


and  distributed  among  eighteen  neighbouring  churches  or  monasteries.  It 
served  for  the  abundant  refreshment  of  those  in  attendance  there,  during 
Holy  Thursday,  Easter  Sunday,  and  the  week  following.^7  At  another  time, 
according  to  custom.  Bishop  Maccaille  paid  the  Saint  a  visit,  being  accom- 
panied, however,  with  an  unusual  retinue  of  clerics.  Brigid  joyfully  and 
hospitably  received  them.  Having  heard  the  word  of  God  proclaimed  by 
them,  she  prepared  to  minister  in  turn  for  the  corporal  refection  of  her 
guests.  She  placed  whatever  viands  she  could  procure  on  the  table ;  yet, 
with  the  exception  of  a  very  small  quantity  of  beer,  contained  in  a  vessel, 
she  had  no  other  kind  of  drink  than  water,^^  However,  presuming  on  God's 
goodness,  she  made  a  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  beverage,  when  it  was 
miraculously  increased,  so  as  to  satisfy  more  than  the  wants  of  all  her  as- 
sembled guests.  And,  we  are  told,  that  several  vessels  were  filled,  with  the 
contents  of  this  particular  measure,  through  the  holy  virgin's  merits  ;  as 
formerly  the  Almighty  had  filled  the  widow's  cruise  of  oil,  through  the 
Prophet  Elias.^9  The  bishop  and  his  clerics  departed,  after  having  expe- 
rienced the  hospitality  of  their  pious  hostess,  and  even  more  gratified  because 
of  her  merits  and  the  miracle  she  wrought,  than  with  any  corporeal  enter- 
tainment she  afforded  them.^^ 

It  happened,  that  a  scarcity  of  com  prevailed  in  the  Lifiey's  plains,  on  a 
certain  occasion,  and  St.  Brigid  was  requested  by  her  nuns  to  visit  St.  Ibar'^ 
— a  bishop  who  then  dwelt  in  the  plain  of  Gesille^^ — to  ask  him  for  corn. 
Our  Saint  assented,  and  on  her  arrival,  she  was  joyfully  received  by  this 
holy  bishop.  However,  when  Brigid  and  her  companions  came,  he  had 
nothing  for  their  entertainment,  but  stale  bread  and  some  bacon.  Although 
this  visit  took  place  in  Lent,  both  saints  partook  of  such  fare ;  but,  two  of 
the  nuns,  who  accompanied  our  Saint,  refused  to  eat  portions  of  bacon  set 
before  them.  A  miraculous  occurrence,  however,  reproved  their  recusancy. 
St.  Brigid  heard  of  it,  and  she  greatly  blamed  her  nuns  in  St.  Ibar's  presence. 
She  ordered  them,  at  the  same  time,  to  go  out  of  doors,  and  to  commence  a 
penitential  fast.  Then  said  Brigid :  "  Let  us  fast  with  them,  and  pray  to 
God."  The  Almighty  heard  their  prayers,  and  soon  afterwards  a  second 
miracle  was  wrought.  Bread  was  set  before  them,  and  when  blest,  it  was 
partaken  of  by  the  saints. ^3     Bishop  Ibar  asked  Brigid  the  cause  for  this  her 


^7  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga, "  ^^  This  account  is  also  briefly  given  in 

Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xxi,,  p.  529.  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Bri- 

It  is  said,   that  the  quantity  supplied   "ad  gid,  pp.  19,  20. 

clausulam  Paschae."    This  seems  to  mean,  ^9  iii.  Kings  xvii.  17. 

to  the  following  Sunday,  or  "  Dominica  in  =°  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga," 

Albis,"   which   closes   the   Easter   Octave.  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxxvi.,  p.  575. 

Ibid,  n.  15,  p.  543.    During  the  same  Easter,  ""^  For  further  particulars,  on  this  subject, 

it  is  stated,  that  a  certain  leper  came  to  Colgan  refers  to  the  Life  of  St.  Ibar,  which 

her,  and  demanded  the  gift  of  a  cow.     But,  he  intended  to  have  published,  at  the  23rd 

not  being  able  to  afford  him  this  present,  of  April. 

Brigid  asked,  if  ;.he  should  pray  to  God,  ^'^  This    "Campus  Gesilli,"  called  Mag- 

that  he  might  be  healed  from  leprosy;  when  gesille,  in  Irish,  was  situated  in  the  district  of 

the  leper  replied,  that  he  would  esteem  such  Hi  Falgi  or  Oflfaly,  not  far  from  the  LifTy's 

favour  as  the  greatest  of   all  gifts.     The  plains.     It  was  connected  with  a  tragic  and 

Saint  then  blessed  some  water,  with  which  unnatural  incident,  in  our  early  history ;  for 

she  sprinkled  the  leper's  body,  and  he  was  old  chronicles  state,  that  Heremon,  King  of 

immediately  cured  of  his  disease.     He  gave  Ireland,  there  slew  his  brother  Heber,  when 

thanks  to  God,  and  remained  with  St.  Brigid,  contending  about  the  respective  boundaries 

to  the  time  of  his  death.— /i^/aT,  cap.  xxv.,  of  their  provinces.     See  iVliss  M.  F.  Cusack's 

p.  529.     This  seems  to  be  the  same  miracle,  "  Illustrated  History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  v., 

which  is  a  little  more  diflusely  and  differently  and  n.  7,  p.  78. 

related,  in  the  "Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidse,"  "^  in  the  Third  Life  is  mentioned  a  very 

cap.  xxxiii.,  pp.  574,  575,  ibid.  wonderful  transformation  "in  duos  Eucheas 


70  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


Lenten  visit.  Then  she  told  him  her  desire  to  obtain  a  supply  of  corn. 
The  bishop  smiling  said  :  "  O  Brigid,  if  you  had  seen  and  known  the  quan- 
tity of  corn  in  our  possession,  you  should  find,  that  the  amount  of  our  gift  to 
you  must  be  small."  The  virgin  replied,  "  This  is  not  the  case,  at  present, 
for  you  have  twenty-four  waggon-loads  of  grain  in  your  barn."  Although  the 
bishop  had  only  a  very  small  quantity  at  first,  yet  on  enquiry,  he  found  the 
prediction  of  the  holy  abbess  verified.  He  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  then 
he  divided  the  heaps.  Ibar  retained  twelve  waggon-loads  for  his  own  use, 
reserving  the  remaining  twelve  for  Brigid  and  her  sisterhood.^^  It  would 
seem,  that  this  visit  of  the  Abbess  had  been  returned  by  Bishop  Ibar,  for  in 
the  Sixth  Life  of  our  Saint  it  is  related,  how  he  then  celebrated  Mass  in  a 
solemn  manner  for  all  the  people^s  who  were  there.^*^  In  the  Third  Life  of 
our  holy  Abbess  of  Kildare,  we  find  the  following  recorded  miracles.  One 
of  her  nuns  had  been  afflicted  with  a  severe  illness,  and  this  patient  asked 
for  a  little  milk.*7  But,  Brigid's  community  had  no  cow  to  afford  it ;  when, 
the  Saint  told  a  companion  to  fill  with  cold  water,  and  then  to  give  the  ves- 
sel to  the  sufferer.  Such  an  order  having  been  complied  with,  it  was  found 
replenished  with  milk,  and  warm  as  if  this  had  been  just  drawn  from  the 
cow.^^  When  the  sick  nun  tasted  this  beverage,  she  recovered.  Two 
females,  belonging  to  her  own  family,  and  who  were  paralysed,  lived  near  St. 
Brigid.  These  asked  the  holy  abbess  to  visit  and  heal  them.  She  complied 
with  their  request.  When  she  arrived,  having  blessed  salt  and  water,  of 
which  those  women  partook,  both  were  soon  restored  to  health.  Afterwards, 
two  Britons,  who  were  blind,  had  been  conducted  by  their  servant,  a  leper, 
to  the  gate  of  that  church,  near  which  the  Saint  dwelt.  They  asked  her  to 
heal  them.  She  then  told  them  to  enter  the  refectory  and  to  eat,  while  she 
should  pray  for  their  salvation.  They  indignantly  cried  out,  "  You  heal  the 
sick  of  your  own  family,  but  you  neglect  strangers  and  attend  only  to  prayer." 


in  pascha  &  in  natalitiis  Domini."     But,  in  both  saints  partook  of  meat,  during  Lent, 

a  note   on  this  passage,   Colgan  remarks,  was  owing  to  a  prevailing  scarcity  of  other 

that  the  text  is  here  vitiated  ;  for,  in  the  prescribed  food,  and  owing  to  a  dispensation 

Book  of  the  Island,  "oblatas  panis"  is  read  from  usual  Lenten  observances.     The  nuns 

for   "duos   Eucheas,"   and   in   the   Fourth  of  St.  Brigid,    rejecting  their  permission, 

Life,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxii.,    "  in  duos  panes  ;"  seem  to  have  given  way  to  a  species  of  vain 

■while  in  both  these  Acts  are  wanting  the  glory,   preferring  to  obedience  the  practice 

words,  "in  pascha  &  in  natalitiis  Domini."  of   their  customary  Lenten  mortifications. 

The  author  of  the  Third  Life  would  seem  to  See  "  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidie,"  cap.  li.  lii., 

insinuate,  in  Colgan's  opinion,   that   those  p.  580,  ibid.     See,  also,  an  account  of  this 

miraculously  transmuted  portions  of  bread  miracle  in  the    "Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidee," 

were  usually  exhibited  on  the  festivals  of  sec.  xlvii.,  p.  592,  ibid. 

Easter  and  of  the  Nativity,  for  a  commemo-  *5  <'Ibarus  ad  cellam  vir  sanctus  venerat 

ration.     And,  by  the  term  "  Eucheas  "  may  alma 

be  understood  the  Eucharistic  breads,  not  Dicere  missarum  populis  sollemnia 

sacramentally  consecrated,  or  perhaps  only  cunctis." 

blessed  bread,  or  resembling  the  Eucharistic  ^  Immediately  after  the  lines  previously 

species.      However,    that    account   in  the  quoted,  Colgan  says,  that  certain  portions 

Fourth  Life,  as  given  in  the  text,  seems  to  of  the  Poem  seem  to  be  missing.    The  last 

controvert  his  opinion,  regarding  their  pre-  line  is  marked,  as  if  for  a  note,  which,  how- 

servation,  for  any  popular  exposition.  ever,  has  been  omitted  in  the  proper  place. 

»*See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  See  "Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidte,"  sec.  lii.,  p. 

Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,   cap.  liv.,  pp,  552,  593.     "  Trias  Thaumaturga. " 

553,  and  nn.  27,  28,  p.  543,  ibid.     Quarta  =^7  In  the  Lections  in  St,  Brigid's  Office 

Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,   cap.  xxiii.,  xxiv.,  taken  from  the  Breviary  of  Aberdeen,  we 

P'  553»  i^d.     The  foregoing  incidents  are  find  a  similar  statement  made  in  reference  to 

somewhat  differently  given  in  the  Fifth  Life,  this  remarkable  recovery.  See  Bishop  Forbes' 

where  we  are  told,  Ibar  had  not  more  than  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 

four  or  five  measures  of  com  in  his  bam,  =«  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  this 

when  Brigid  first  arrived.     The  reason,  why  account  is  given,  pp.  19,  20, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,  71 


She  received  this  reproof  by  meekly  going  out  from  the  church,  and  taking 
blessed  water  to  them.  When  she  had  sprinkled  them  with  it,  the  leper  was 
cleansed  and  the  blind  men  saw.  All  three  praised  God,  and  returned 
thanks  for  such  benefits  as  He  there  bestowed  on  them. 

A  woman  came  one  day  to  St.  Brigid.  That  visitor  drove  a  cow,  with  its 
calf,  which  had  been  intended  as  an  offering  for  the  abbess.  However,  the 
calf  strayed  away  into  a  very  thick  wood.  Finding  she  cbuld  not  drive  the 
cow  without  it,  the  woman  called  out  with  a  loud  voice,  that  Brigid  might 
assist  her.  Immediately,  the  cow  went  gently  with  her  conductor,  and  direct 
to  the  virgin's  house.  Brigid  then  told  the  woman  to  feel  in  no  way  con- 
cerned about  the  calf,  which  should  soon  follow  in  the  traces  of  its  dam. 
Another  day,  when  the  Octave  of  Easter  had  closed,=9  Brigid  said  to  her 
nuns,  "  Hath  that  beer  reserved  for  our  Easter  solemnity  been  given  out,  for 
I  am  solicitous  regarding  Bishop  Mel,  and  the  guests  of  Christ  T  The  nuns 
replied,  that  God  would  send  them  a  sufficiency.  Then  they  brought  on  their 
shoulders  a  vessel  filled  with  water  to  the  Saint,  that  she  might  bless  it, 
according  to  her  usual  custom.  Supposing  it  to  be  beer,  their  abbess  said, 
"  We  give  thanks  to  God,  who  hath  reserved  this  for  our  bishop."  On  exa- 
mination, it  was  found,  that  water  had  been  changed  into  such  a  beverage, 
as  had  been  mentioned  by  the  Saint.3°  At  a  certain  time,  likewise,  she 
suffered  from  sore  eyes  ;  and  on  hearing  about  her  affliction,  the  same  Bishop 
Mel  sent  a  message  she  should  visit  him,  so  that  both  might  seek  a  physician 
to  heal  her.  Brigid  said,  although  not  desiring  to  visit  a  corporal  physician, 
yet  she  would  act  as  the  bishop  directed.  It  so  happened,  the  Saint  fell 
from  her  chariot,  into  the  ford  of  a  certain  river,3'^  whilst  on  her  way  with 
the  bishop  to  seek  the  practitioner.  Her  head  struck  against  a  stone,  and  a 
great  quantity  of  blood  began  to  flow  from  her  wound. 3^  After  such  an 
accident,  that  medical  professor  whom  they  sought,  met  them  on  their  way.33 
Placing  his  hand  on  the  Saint's  head,  he  cried  out :  "  O  holy  virgin,  a  physi- 
cian infinitely  superior  to  me  hath  healed  thy  head,  and  always  seek  that 
physician,  who  is  able  to  expel  all  manner  of  disease  from  thee."  Bishop 
Mel  then  said  to  her  :  "  I  shall  never  again  advise  you  to  seek  any  human 
physician."34 

The  fame  of  Brigid's  holiness,  in  a  short  time,  caused  this  wonder-worker 
to  be  known  and  universally  admired  by  the  bishops,  clergy,  reHgious,  and 
people  of  Ireland.  Her  miracles  had  most  beneficial  effects  on  the  newly- 
converted  Christians,  while  they  caused  a  great  many  conversions  among 
the  Pagans.  St.  Mel  and  other  distinguished  prelates  held  with  her  frequent 
spiritual  conferences  and  took  her  counsel.  35  After  the  foregoing  occurrences, 
as  related  by  her  biographers,  Bishops  Mel  and  Melchu,  with  St.  Brigid,36 


=5  This  account  occurs  in  Professor  O'Loo-  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxvii.,  xxviii., 

ney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  19,  20.  p;  529.     See,  also,  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigid®, 

3°  This  miraculous    occurrence    is    more  cap.  xlvii.,  xlviii.,  and  n.  12,  pp.  578,  579, 

minutely  detailed,  in  the  Fifth  Life,  chap.  640,  ibid.     In  the  latter  Life,   it  is  stated, 

xxxvi.  St.  Jbrigid  suffered  from  a  pain  in  her  head. 

3^  This  is  briefly  stated  in  the  Lections  of  That  physician,  to  whom  Mel  sent  her,  was 
the  Breviary  of  Aberdeen  for  St.  Brigid's  Bishop  Echeus,  Echenus  or  Echianus,  of 
Office.  See  Bishop  Forbes'  "  Kalendars  of  whom  it  is  said,  he  was  skilled  in  the  know- 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289.  ledge  and  practice  of  various  diseases,  and 

3^  The  Third  Life  adds,  that  when  it  was  in  the  remedies  for  their  cure, 
mixed  with  water,  two  mute  women  were  35  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

restored  to  the  use  of  speech.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  39,  46. 

33  These  accounts  are  also  given  in  Pro-  36  From  the  poetical  description  in  our 
fessor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  Saint's  Sixth  Life,  it  would  seem,  that  this 
pp.  19  to  22.  journey  had  been  undertaken  in  the  middle  of 

34  See    Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  the   Summer]  season,    and  with  a  view  of 


72 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


proceeded  towards  the  plain  of  Theba,37  or  Teffia,  where  the  aforesaid  prelate, 
Mel,  had  a  large  monastery.s^  During  this  journey,  the  favoured  virgin  wrought 
many  miracles. 39  The  ancient  principality  of  Anghaile4°  seems  to  have  been 
their  point  of  destination.  While  the  Virgin  and  her  companions  dwelt 
there,  the  King  of  Thebaic  gave  a  banquet,  at  some  distance  from  their 
dwelling.  An  awkward  servant,  on  approaching  the  royal  table  to  remove 
a  precious  vessel  of  priceless  material  and  workmanship,42  chanced  to  let  it 
fall,  when  it  was  immediately  broken  in  pieces.43  Full  of  anger,  this  king 
arbitarily  ordered  him  to  be  bound  and  put  to  death.  But,  on  hearing  about 
such  a  cruel  and  an  unjust  sentence.  Bishop  Mel  sought  the  king  to  intercede 
for  that  captive.  The  chief,  however,  would  not  grant  his  petition.  Then 
Mel  gathered  up  the  fragments  of  the  broken  vessel,  and  brought  them  to 
St.  Brigid.  He  asked  her  to  repair  it,  and  she  effected  this  task.  44  The 
captive  was  subsequently  liberated ;  while  the  fame  of  such  a  miracle  diffused 
itself  throughout  that  part  of  the  country.45 

Near  this  place,  St.  Brigid  was  asked  to  visit  another  pious  virgin,46  called 
Briga,47and  at  the  house  of  this  latter.  Her  house  was  at  a  place  called  Kilbrige.4^ 
Our  saint  accepted  such  an  invitation  at  the  time,  as  she  had  often  done  on  similar 
occasions.  Arriving  at  the  house,  she  was  received  with  great  joy  and  honour. 
According  to  the  usual  custom  of  treating  guests,  her  feet  were  washed ;  and, 
after  the  water  had  been  removed,  it  cured  another  nun,  whose  feet  were 


1 


assisting  at  a  council  held  by  St.  Patrick. 
At  this  Synod,  many  prelates  were  present, 
from  remote  places.  Regarding  those  bis- 
hops and  our  Saint,  it  is  added  : — 

"  Cum  quibus  ilia  suis  perrexitsanctapuellis; 
Tempore  quo  rutilus  torrentia  sol  gemino- 

rum 
Sidera  perlustrat ;  ardent  confinia  Cancri, 
Fit  calor  in  terris,  fervet  sol  igneus  astris." 

37  Colgan  says  of  Thebe  or  Theba,  that  it 
was  a  plain  known  as  Teffia  or  Teffa,  other- 
wise called  Anghaile,  in  the  county  of  Long- 
ford. See  "Trias  Thaumaturga, "  Vita 
Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  n.  i6,  p.  543. 

38  This  monastery  was  Ardagh,  which 
afterwards  grew  into  an  Episcopal  See. — 
Ibid,  n.  17. 

39  In  favour  of  the  blind,  lame  and  af- 
flicted. We  are  told,  also,  that  during  the 
progress  of  herself  and  of  her  companions, 

**  rectis  properando  gressibus  ibant 
Fluminis  ad  ripam  cujusdam  nomine  Bannae." 

It  seems  more  probable,  however,  that  Baruac 
should  be  the  reading,  as  probably  the  River 
Barrow  is  meant. 

4°  The  Muintir-Fearghaill  or  family  of  the 
O'Ferralls  were  its  chief  lords  for  many 
centuries,  although  in  point  of  genealogy, 
the  O'Quinns  of  the  same  race  were  their 
seniors.  They  had  sometimes  sovereignty 
over  that  sub-section  of  Fergus's  race,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Shannon.  Still,  they 
never  ruled  over  the  whole  race  of  Fergus, 
who  had  large  territories  in  Connaught,  as 
likewise  in  Thomond  and  Kerry.  See 
"The    Topographical     Poems     of     John 


O'Dubhagain  and  Giolla  na  Naomh  O'Hu- 
idhrin."  Edited  by  Dr.  O'Donovan,  n. 
277,  p.  xxxviii. 

4'  The  King  of  Longford,  he  is  rather  in- 
exactly called  in  the  "  Life  of  St.  Brigid," 
by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  41. 

4^  The  writer  of  her  Third  Life  says,  this 
vessel  among  our  ancestors  was  called 
* '  Septiformis  Calyx. "  It  might  be  a  curious 
subject  for  enquiry,  to  ascertain  the  exact 
form  and  material  of  this  cup  or  chalice. 
Have  we  amongst  our  ancient  vessels  any  of 
a  peculiar  shape,  to  which  this  and  the 
following  description  jnight  apply  ?  The 
many-sided  mether,  ordrinking  cup  of  the 
ancient  Irish,  may  have  been  one  of  its 
class.  It  is  said  to  have  been  "a  richly 
ornamented  vessel  "  in  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  21,  22. 

43  From  this  account,  we  may  infer,  that 
the  material  was  either  glass  or  pottery- 
ware. 

44  This  account  is  contained,  but  in  a 
brief  way,  in  the  Lections  of  the  Breviary  of 
Aberdeen.  See  Bishop  Forbes'  "Kalen- 
dars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 

45  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigida;,  cap.  xxix.,  pp.  529, 
530.  Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  sees,  xxvi., 
xxvii.,  pp.  587,  588. 

4^  She  is  called  Brigid  the  daughter  of 
Conaille  [Congal]  in  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life  of  the  Saint,  pp.  21,  22. 

47  This  Briga  or  Brigh  is  supposed  to  have 
been  venerated  at  the  21st  of  January,  or 
again  her  feast  may  be  found  at  the  9th  of 
March. 

4«  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv,,  p.  42, 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  73 


crippled. ■<5  One  day  a  woman  came  to  our  saint,  with  a  present  of  apples,so 
while  Brigid  dwelt  in  the  plain  of  Theba.  Before  that  woman  left  the  place, 
some  lepers  came  up  demanding  alms.  Brigid  told  the  woman  to  divide 
this  fruit  with  them.  Then  her  visitor  replied,  "  I  brought  these  apples,  not 
for  lepers,  but  for  yourself  and  for  your  nuns."  Such  a  remark  displeased 
our  saint,  and  she  rebuked  that  woman  for  her  want  of  charity,  telling  her  at 
the  same  time,  her  trees  should  never  afterwards  bear  fruit.s'  On  returning 
to  her  house,  the  woman  found  not  a  single  apple  remaining  in  her  orchard ; 
although,  only  a  short  time  before,  her  trees  were  bending  with  fruit.  Thence- 
forward, her  garden  remained  barren,  according  to  St.  Brigid's  prediction,  s^ 

At  another  time,  St.  Brigid  journeyed  through  the  plain  of  Thebe  in  her 
chariot,  when,  with  many  cattle,  she  saw  a  man,  his  wife  and  whole  family, 
labouring  and  bearing  heavy  burthens.  These  greatly  wearied  them,  as  the 
heat  of  summer  was  then  excessive.  Compassionating  these  people,  our 
saint  gave  them  the  horses,  which  were  under  her  own  chariot,  to  assist 
their  efforts.  At  this  time,  with  her  nuns,  she  sat  down  on  the  way-side. 
Brigid  then  said  to  her  religious  daughters,  "  Dig  beneath  the  sod  which  is 
near,  that  a  well  of  water  may  be  produced,  for  some  persons  shall  come 
hither,  who  although  having  food,  shall  require  drink."  Having  obeyed  her 
orders,  and  dug  a  few  feet,  a  fountain  immediately  spnmg  up  in  the  place.53 
After  some  short  time,  with  a  great  number  of  persons  on  horse  and  foot, 
accompanying  him,  a  certain  chief  came  to  the  place.  Having  learned,  that 
St.  Brigid  had  given  away  her  horses,  he  presented  her  with  two  untrained 
ones.  These  became  as  tractable  under  her  management,  as  if  they  had 
been  accustomed  to  the  traces  of  her  chariot,  s-*  Afterwards,  some  of  St. 
Patrick's  disciples  and  family  are  related  to  have  passed  the  same  way. 
These  said  to  Brigid  :  "  We  have  laboured  on  our  journey,  having  food,  but 
no  drink."  The  sisters  of  our  saint  replied,  that  running  water  had  been 
prepared  for  them  to  drink,  and  that  the  abbess  had  predicted  their  arrival. 
Then  all  eat  and  drank  together,  while  the  fame  of  our  saint  was  extolled. 
Thanksgiving  was  likewise  returned  to  the  Almighty,  for  such  a  blessing. 

While  St.  Brigid  was  travelling,  with  a  great  crowd,  two  lepers  followed 
her,  and  according  to  her  usual  custom,  she  kindly  received  them.  How- 
ever, these  miserable  creatures  quarrelled  with  each  other,  and  proceeded  to 
blows.  Meantime,  the  arm  of  that  man,  who  struck  first,  became  curved,  so 
that  he  could  not  lift  it ;  while,  the  right  hand  of  his  opponent,  which  had 
been  raised,  could  not  be  moved  again  to  its  natural  position.  The  hands 
of  these  lepers  remained  in  the  condition  described,  until  St.  Brigid  on  com- 
ing up  healed  them.  Then  they  repented. ss  At  another  time,  our  saint's 
chariot  was  brought  to  carry  a  sick  man,  who  was  at  the  point  of  death. 
About  even-tide,  he  was  conveyed  to  the  place,  where  our  saint  resided ; 
and,  on  that  very  night,  his  recovery  set  in,  so  that  by  morning  he  was 
able  to  walk.     On  finding  this  to  be  the  case,  some  lepers  asked  for  her 


45  See,  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxx,,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xxxi.,  p.  530. 

p.  530.     Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xlv.,  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  xxx.,  p.  586, 

xlvi.,  p.  578.     Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  sees.  ibid. 

xiv.,  xviii.,  pp.  584,  585.  53  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

s°  This  anecdote  is  contained  in  Professor  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  45. 

O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  23,  S4  The  foregoing  circumstances  are  related, 

24.  with  more  prolixity,  in  the  Sexta  Vita  S. 

5'  This  anecdote  is  more  briefly  related  in  Brigidoe,  sees,  xxxi,,  xxxii,,  xxxiv  ,  pp.  588, 

the  Lections  of  Si.   Brigid's  Office  in  the  589.     Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

Breviary  of  Aberdeen.     See  Bishop  Forbes'  ss  The  same  account  is  given  in  Professor 

"Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289.  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  23, 

5' See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  24. 


y4  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


chariot.    This  vehicle,  with  her  horses,  the  virgin  is  said  to  have  bestowed  on 
them.  56 

Being  invited,  St.  Brigid  went  to  a  certain  nunnery,  in  the  territory  of 
Theba,  to  celebrate  Easter.  The  pious  abbess57  of  the  place,  on  Holy 
Thursday, ss  asked  all  her  sisters,  who  would  wish  to  wash  the  feet  of  certain 
infirm  nuns.  59  All  seeming  to  feel  repugnance  for  this  office,  St.  Brigid  de- 
clared her  willingness  to  assume  such  a  task ;  and  the  abbess  was  pleased 
with  a  compliance,  which  she  knew  to  have  been  inspired  by  heaven.  Four 
of  the  nuns  were  then  infirm  ;  one  was  a  paralytic,  another  had  been  subject 
to  epileptic  fits,  one  was  a  leper,  and  another  had  been  blind.^°  Our  saint 
first  began  to  wash  the  paralytic,  who  said  to  her  :  "  O  holy  mother,  pray  to 
Christ  for  me,  that  I  may  be  healed."  Brigid  prayed  for  her,  and  she  was 
instantly  restored  to  health. ^^  While  our  saint  remained  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  she  occupied  a  cell  for  some  days,  and  it  chanced,  also  that  a  boy 
who  had  been  mute  and  a  paralytic^^  was  there,  although  St.  Brigid  was 
ignorant  about  his  infirmities.  Some  passengers  arrived,  who  asked  for 
food.^3  Our  saint  enquired  from  this  boy,  if  he  knew  where  the  cellar  key 
was  to  be  found.  He  immediately  spoke  and  said  "  I  do."  Brigid  replied, 
"  Go,  and  bring  it  to  me."^4  The  paralytic,  hereupon,  arose  cured,  and  pre- 
sented the  keys,  whilst,  afterwards,  with  the  holy  virgin,  he  ministered  food 
to  the  guests,  after  the  Scottish  manner.^s  When  returning  home,  this  bo/s 
friends  were  greatly  astonished  on  finding  him  both  walking  and  speaking. 
The  boy  told  them  circumstantially  how  he  had  been  healed ;  and  all  who 
heard  his  account  gave  thanks  to  God  and  praised  His  holy  servant.^^  At  a 
time,  the  holy  bishops  Maol  and  Maolchu^?  came  to  St.  Brigid.  They 
asked,  if  she  would  accompany  them  on  a  visit  to  their  sanctified  patron, 
Patrick,  then  dwelling  in  the  plain  of  Bregh.^^  Our  saint  replied,  that  she 
very  much  desired  to  do  so,  as  she  wished  to  obtain  his  blessing.  Then 
those  holy  bishops  set  out  on  their  journey,  with  Brigid  and  her  companions. 
A  certain  cleric,  who  had  a  large  family,  with  cattle  and  two  waggons,  asked 

5*  See,  also,  **  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Sexta  St.  Brigid,  pp.  23,  24. 

Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sees,  xxxviii.,  xxxix.,  p.  "^^  Tliis  is  somewhat  differently  related  in 

590.  the  Lessons  of  St.   Brigid's   Office  in  the 

57  She  had  probably  been  the  subject  of  Breviary  of  Aberdeen.  See  Bishop  Forbes* 
St.  Brigid,  in  an  affiliate  house.  "Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 

58  See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  ^s  Colgan  has  appended  a  note,  to  the 
Priest,  pp.  43,  44.  corresponding  Latin  passage,  in  which  he 

59  This  account  is  varied  in  the  Lections  proceeds  to  show — a  question  not  so  much 
of  St.  Brigid's  Office  as  found  in  the  Bre-  debated  now  as  in  his  time— that  the  Irish 
viary  of  Aberdeen.  See  Bishop  Forbes'  were  anciently  called  Scots,  as  St.  Brigid  is 
**  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289.  remarked  to  have  dwelt  then,  in  the  country 

^°  In  the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  belong-  of  Theba,  near  Meath,  and  that  the  author 
ing  to  Professor  O'Looney,  we  are  told  in-  of  her  Fourth  Life  must  have  lived  at  a  re- 
stead,  that  "there  were  four  diseased  per-  mote  period,  the  Irish  having  been  commonly 
sons  in  the  house,  viz.,  a  man  in  a  decline,  called  Scots,  in  his  time.  See  "Trias  Thau- 
a  maniac,  a  blind  man  and  a  leper,"  pp.  23,  maturga."  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  n.  18, 
24.  p,  564. 

"  This  miracle  is  also  recorded  in  the  ^^  This  miracle  is  also  related,   in    the 

"Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,"  sec.  xix.,  p.  585.  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidaj,  cap.  xlix.,  p.  579. 

See  "Trias  Thaumaturga."    There,  how-  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

ever,  it  is  stated,  in  addition,  that  the  other  ^7  So  called  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  our 

three  afflicted  persons  were  healed  by  St.  saint.     In  the  Third  Life,  they  are  named 

Brigid,  after  praying  her  to  interpose  on  Mel  and  Melchu. 

their  behalf.  «'o  probably   breaghmhagh,  a  transposed 

^=' Relating  this  incident,   "The  Life  of  form  of  the  name  Magh-Breagh,  a  famous 

St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  calls  him  "a  plain  in   East   Meath.     See  "The  Topo- 

deaf  and  dumb  child."  See  chap,  iv.,  p.  44.  graphical  Poems  of  John  O'Dubhagain  and 

*3  This  anecdote  is  somewhat  differently  Giolla  na  naomh  O'Huidhrin."     Edited  by 

related  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  John  O'Donovan,  LL.D.,  p.  xv.,  n.  63. 


February  i-l        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,  75 


permission  to  accompany  the  saints,  that  he  might  minister  to  their  wants  on 
the  journey;  but,  the  bishops  would  not  consent,  lest  their  travelling  might 
be  impeded  by  the  number  of  beasts  and  the  amount  of  baggage.  Then,  St. 
Brigid  said  to  the  bishops ;  "  Proceed  you  before  us,  I  shall  remain,  and 
assist  those  people." 

The  bishops  obeyed  her,  and  the  saint,  remaining  with  the  cleric's  family, 
asked  why  they  did  not  put  their  baggage  in  the  waggons.  She  was  informed 
that  two  infirm  persons,  a  paralytic  man,  and  a  blind  woman,  occupied  them. 
The  fellow-travellers  of  Brigid  refreshed  themselves  and  slept  for  the  night, 
while  she  fasted  and  kept  vigil.  On  the  following  morning,  this  spouse  of 
Christ  blessed  some  water. ^9  Pouring  it  on  the  paralytic  and  on  the  blind 
woman,  both  were  restored ;  one  to  the  use  of  his  limbs,  the  other  to  her 
eyesight.  Then,  according  to  our  saint's  orders,  their  baggage  was  placed 
in  the  waggons,  while  prosecuting  their  journey  and  giving  unfeigned  thanks 
to  God.  With  their  permission  and  blessing,  our  saint  and  her  companions 
parted  company,  in  order  to  hasten  progress. 

On  seeing  a  certain  rustic  greatly  concerned  regarding  his  cattle,  and 
being  near  the  house  in  which  our  saint  lived,  Brigid  told  her  nuns  to  enquire 
about  the  cause  of  his  grief ;  when  he  replied,  that  his  whole  family,  consist- 
ing of  twelve  persons,  lay  sick  at  home,  and  there  was  no.  woman  found  to 
milk  his  cows.  Our  saint  told  her  nuns  to  perform  this  kindly  office. 
Having  complied  with  her  order,  the  religious  sisters  were  invited  by 
that  man  to  partake  of  some  refreshment.  With  this  request  they  com- 
plied, while  their  holy  abbess  fasted.  All  having  dined,  the  saint  of  God 
blessed  some  water,  with  which  she  sprinkled  the  house  and  its  sick  in- 
mates. The  holy  virgin's  presence  and  her  ministrations  restored  all  those 
infirm  persons  to  health.  Then  they  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  invoked  bless- 
ings on  his  glorious  servant.  Subsequently,  in  a  direct  course,  St.  Brigid  and  her 
companions^o  proceed  to  a  place  called  Tailten,7i  where  St.  Patrick,  with  an 
assembly  of  holy  bishops  and  saints,  held  a  council.72  Brigid  was  received 
by  the  assembly  with  becoming  honour.73  Here  she  is  related  to  have  vin- 
dicated the  character  of  Bishop  Bron74  in  a  miraculous  manner. 73  Tailten 
has  been  identified76  with  the  modern  Telltown,77  a  parish78  in  the  barony  of 

^  Thus,  the  circumstance  is  related,  in  St.  Patrick,  the  Apostle  of  Ireland,  as  her 

her  Fourth  Life.     In  the  Third,  it  is  said,  father,  and  that,  in  turn,  he  adopted  her  as 

our  saint  used  the  "morning  dew,"  as  ma-  his  daughter.     It  is  also  said,  that  for  the 

Uries  for  their  restoration.  first  time,  these  two  great  saints  saw  each 

7°  According    to    Professor     O'Looney's  other  there ;  and  from  this  date   forward, 

Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  one  of  these  was  common  consent  allowed  St.  Brigid  to  be 

Bishop  Mel,  pp.  25,  26.     Melchu   is  also  the  greatest  of  all  the  Irish  saints,  after  St. 

named  as  one  of  them  in  "  The  Life  of  St.  Patrick. 

Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  when  alluding  to  74  See  his  acts  at  the  8th  of  June, 

this  narrative.     See  chap,   iv,,  pp.  46  to  75  See  the  Lections  of  St.  Brigid's  Office 

48.  in  the  Breviary  of  Aberdeen.   Bishop  Forbes* 

7^  This  place  was  situated  in  the  northern  *'  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 

part  of  Meath.     In  ancient  times,   it  was  7^  John  O' Donovan  has  given  an  account 

greatly  celebrated.      See  Colgan's   "Trias  of  ancient  Tailten— which  he  identifies  with 

Thaumaturga."     Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida:,  Telltown  —  in    letters,    dated    Keannanus, 

n.  19,  p.  564.  Uiy  i2th,  July  13th,  July  14th,  1836,  pp. 

7^  It  is  called  a  "  Convocation  of  the  men  6  to  16,  in   "Letters  containing  Informa- 

of  Erin  at  Tailtin,"  and   "the   Synod   of  tion  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County 

Erin,"  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  of  Meath,  collected  during  the  Progress  of 

the  saint,  pp.  25,  26.     A  very  interesting  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1836." 

description  of  Telltown,  identified  with  Tail-  77  A  townland  of  626  acres  so  called  con- 

tean,  is  given  in  Sir  William  Robert  Wilde's  tains  a  remarkable  eminence   called  tlAch 

"  Beauties  of  the  Boyne  and  its  Tributary  the  "Otibh  or  Black   Rath.     It   is  about  sixty 

Blackwater,"  chap,  vi.,  pp.  149  to  154.  perches  northward    from    the    Blackwater 

73  In  the  Fourth  Life  of  our  saint,  we  are  River, 

told,  on  this  occasion,  St.  Brigid  received  78  it  is  also  called  Killalton  Parish, 


76  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


Upper  Kells,  county  of  Meath.79  Yet,  another  opinion  has  been  advanced 
with  much  abiHty,^°  that  the  remains  of  the  celebrated  Royal  Cemeteries  of 
Tailltin  should  be  sought  for  on  the  Lough  Crew  Hills,^'  at  Oldcastle,  in  the 
same  county. ^^  Here  an  annual  meeting  of  the  people,  called  in  Irish 
Oenach,  "  a  fair,"  had  been  held  in  ancient  times,  on  "  the  fair-hilled  Taill- 
ten,"  which  seems  a  term  inapplicable  to  Telltown,  which  lies  in  a  low  situa- 
tion, and  which  is  singularly  destitute  of  hills.  It  is  probable,  St.  Patrick 
took  advantage  of  the  popular  gathering  there  to  hold  a  synod  or  to  give  a 
public  mission.  It  is  said,  the  fair  was  held  with  great  pomp,^3  and  that  it 
Avas  celebrated  for  national  games,  which  commenced  on  the  ist  of  August 
each  year,  although  occasionally  interrupted  or  prevented,  owing  to 
civil  discords  or  to  other  causes.  When  the  day,  on  which  the  foregoing 
occurrence  took  place,  drew  to  a  close,  on  seeing  the  miracles  which 
our  saint  wrought,  a  certain  man  asked  her  to  visit,  with  her  virgins,  a 
house  lately  built,  and  which  he  wished  should  be  consecrated  by  her  pre- 
sence. She  went  according  to  his  request,  and  was  received  by  her  host,  in 
a  hospitable  and  respectful  manner.  When  food  had  been  placed  before  the 
nuns  for  their  refreshment,  Brigid  said  to  her  sisters,  with  a  prophetic  spirit ; 
"  The  Lord  hath  now  shown  me,  that  this  man  is  a  Gentile,  and  as  he  will 
not  be  baptized,  we  should  not  partake  of  his  meats."  One  of  her  nuns  re- 
plied :  "  You  speak  truth,  for  I  have  heard,  that  of  all  others,  he  hath  most 
resisted  St.  Patrick's  preaching  and  hath  refused  to  receive  baptism."  St. 
Brigid  then  told  her  host,  that  they  could  not  eat  with  him  until  he  had  been 
first  baptized.  Immediately  afterwards,  the  Lord  touched  this  man's  heart 
with  compunction  for  his  sins,  and  he  believed,  together  with  his  whole  family. 
Bishop  Bron,  St.  Patrick's  disciple,  who  accompanied  our  saint,  administered 
the  baptismal  rite.  On  being  informed  about  these  circumstances  the  follow- 
ing day,  St.  Patrick  told  the  holy  virgin,  that  henceforth  she  should  not 
journey,^-*  without  having  a  priest  to  accompany  her.^s  Then,  the  illustrious 
bishop  ordained  a  priest,  named  Natfroich,^^  who  during  the  whole  course  of 


79  See  Lewis'  "  Topographical  Dictionary  The  same  writer  proposes  to  publish  a  very 

of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  600.  valuable  contribution  to  our  ancient  history 

^°  See  some  admirable  investigations,  re-  and  antiquities,    intituled,    "  Taillten    and 

lative  to  this  matter,  which  were  presented  Brugh  :  in  the  County  of  Meath  :  being  an 

by  Eugene  Alfred  Conwell,  M.R.I. A.,  in  a  account  of  the  present  condition  of  two  of 

series  of  communications  to  the  Royal  Irish  the  Royal  Cemeteries  of  Ireland  in  Pagan 

Academy  on  the  23rd  of  May,  and  on  the  Times."     Illustrations,   from  correct  draw- 

14th  of  November,   1864  ;   as  also  on  the  ings,  are  designed  for  this  work. 

26th  of  February,  1866,  and  on  the  12th  of  ^3  Here  "games  similar  to  the  Olympian 

February,  1872.     These  were  published  in  are  described  to  have  been  held  for  15  days 

"Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,"  before,  and  15  days  after,  the  1st  of  August, 

vol.  ix.     First  series,  pp.   355  et  seq.,  and  and  the  time  appointed  for  this  grand  festival 

vol.  i.,  second  series,  pp.  72  et  seq.  was  also  that  commonly  chosen  for  giving 

^'  The  pre-historic  monuments  here  were  young  people  in  marriage." — Thomas  Crom- 

first  discovered  by  Eugene  Alfred  Conwell,  well's  "  Excursions  through  Ireland,"  vol.  ii., 

M.R.I. A.,  on  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  June,  p.  125.     London,  1820,  8vo. 

1863.     See  "  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish  ^^  See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish 

Academy,"  vol.  ix.,  p.  356.     "  Examination  Priest,"  chap,  iv.,  p.  48. 

of  the   Ancient   Sepulchral  Cairns  on  the  ^s  in  the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  belong- 

Loughcrew  Hills,  County  of  Meath."  ing  to  Professor  O'Looney,  the  foregoing 

^'  Mr.  Conwell  has  issued  in  book  form,  occurrences  are  noticed.     We  are  informed, 

thin  8vo,  an  interesting  account  of  this  loca-  moreover,  that   St.   Patrick's  injunction   to 

lity.     This  is  intituled   "  Discovery  of  the  St.  Brigid  "  caused  Natfraech  to  take  Holy 

Tomb  of  OllAmh   -po-ohU   (^Ollav    Fola),  Orders,"  pp.  25,  26. 

Ireland's  famous  Monarch  and  Law-Maker  ""^  This  priest  was  afterwards  numbered 

upwards  of  Three  Thousand  Years  Ago,"  among  our  national  saints,  and  according  to 

Dublin,  1873.     It  contains  several  interest-  Marianus  O'Gorman  and  the  Martyrology  of 

ing  illustrations,  pertinent  to  the  subject.  Donegal,  he  was  venerated  on  the  nth  of 


l^EBRUARY  I.]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  n 


her  life  attended  St.  Brigid,  in  quality  of  guardian,  while  on  her  travels.^7 
Having  taken  leave  of  St.  Patrick,  the  holy  abbess  returned  to  her  nunnery. 
About  this  time,  also,  a  certain  man^^  came  to  the  saint,  and  bore  his  mother, 
a  paralytic,  on  his  shoulders.  When  he  had  arrived  in  our  saint's  presence, 
placing  his  mother  on  the  ground,  under  the  holy  virgin's  shadow, ^9  no  sooner 
had  the  infirm  woman  been  set  in  this  position,  than  she  arose  and  cried 
out :  "  I  give  thanks  to  God,  because  the  moment  I  touched  your  shadow, 
O  saint,  I  was  healed,  and  felt  no  more  pain."  Then  audible  exclamations 
of  praise  to  the  Almighty  issued  from  the  lips  of  all  present.9° 

After  some  interval  of  time,  a  certain  demoniac,  bound  with  strong  chains, 
was  about  being  brought  to  St.  Brigid ;  but,  on  learning  to  whom  he  was 
being  conducted,  he  cast  himself  on  the  ground  and  persistently  declared, 
they  should  never  bring  him  to  her.  The  conductors  told  him,  that  he 
neither  knew  where  Brigid  was,  nor  the  purpose  they  had  in  view ;  still,  he 
replied,  he  well  knew  their  object,  and  the  place  where  our  saint  dwelt, 
which  he  named.  Finding  they  could  not  move  him  from  the  spot  where 
he  lay,  his  guardians  were  of  opinion,  that  a  message  should  be  sent  to 
Brigid,  requesting  her  to  visit  him  there  in  Christ's  name.  The  holy  virgin 
assented  to  their  request;  and,  on  her  approach,  a  demon  fled  from  that 
man,  whilst  as  yet  she  was  at  some  distance.  This  was  a  marked  privilege 
our  saint  possessed,  for  she  caused  devils  to  fear  and  to  fly  her  approach, 
wheresoever  she  came.  On  the  instant,  this  man's  reason  returned,  and  he 
gave  thanks  to  God.9^ 


CHAPTER  V. 

AT  ST,  LASARA's  CONVENT  ST.  BRIGID  WORKS  MIRACLES — HER  EXCURSION  TO  MUN- 
STER  WITH  BISHOP  ERG— THE  HOLY  ABBESS  VISITS  CONNAUGHT— HER  LABOURS 
AND  AUSTERITIES  WHILE  THERE— THE  PEOPLE  OF  LEINSTER  REQUEST  HER  TO 
RETURN — SHE  COMPLIES,  AND  RE-CROSSES  THE  SHANNON— SHE  RESOLVES  ON 
BUILDING  HER  GREAT  ESTABLISHMENT  AT   KILDARE. 

While  some  legendary  writers  of  the  illustrious  saint's  acts  intersperse  them 
with  fantastic  recitals,  others  recount  the  daily  wonders  of  her  life,  and  the 
benefits  her  charitable  solicitude  everywhere  spread  around  in  providing, 
not  only  for  the  wants  of  the  clergy  and  religious  with  whom  she  associated, 
but  even  for  those  of  the  poor  and  humble.^  At  a  certain  time,  Brigid,  with 
her  companions,  was  entertained  by  a  St  Lasara  or  Lasrea,  at  the  church  of 
this  latter  virgin.     It  has  been  conjectured  she  was  the  daughter  of  Ferguss,^ 


December.     An  Irish  Life  of  our  saint,  in  »*  The  foregoing  miracles  are  copied,  with 

Colgan's  possession,  mentions  him  in  the  little  variation,  from  the  Third  and  Fourth 

fourteenth  chapter.     See  "Trias  Thauma-  Lives  of  St.  Brigid.     See  Colgan's  "Trias 

turga."    Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  n.  20,  p.  Thaumaturga. "     Vita  Tertia   S.    Brigidae, 

543-  cap.  xxxii.,  xxxiii.,  xxxiv.,  xxxv.,  xxxvi., 

''7  See  L.  Tachet  de  Bameval's  **  Histoire  xxxvii.,  xxxviii.,  xxxix.,  xl.,  xli.,  xlii.,  xliii., 

Legendaire  del'lrlande,"  chap,  ix,,  p.  87.  pp,  530,  531.     Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib. 

^  He  is  said  to  have  been  from  Northern  i.,  cap.  xxxiv. ,  xxxv. ,  xxxvi.,  xxxvii.,  xxxviii., 

Bregia  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Manuscript  xxxix.,  xl,  xH,,  xlii.,  xliii.,  xliv.,  xlv.,  pp. 

Life.  547,  548,  549.     In  many,  if  not  in  most,  of 

^  In  the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  Pro-  these  chapters,  one  life  seems  to  be  almost 

fessor  O'Looney  renders  this  passage  "the  a  verbal  copy  or  transcript  of  the  other, 

shelter  of  Brigid,"  pp.  25,  26.  Chap.  v. — 'See  L.  Tachet  de  Bameval's 

9°  See  "  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidoe,"  section  "  Historie  Legendaire  de  I'lrlande,"  chap* 

xvi.,  p,  585,  ibid.,  for  an  account  of  the  fore-  viii.,  p.  82. 

going  miracle.  =*  The  Martyrologies  of  Marianus  Gorman, 


7S 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


son  to  Fethlemid,  son  to  King  Leogaire.3  This  identification,  however,  is 
not  well  ascertained. '^  Her  place  is  called  Kill-Laisre,5  or  "  Laisre's 
Church  ;"^  although  it  is  difficult  to  identify  the  foundress,7  among  the  many- 
recurring  and  similar  names  inscribed  on  our  calendars.^  While  resting  at  this 
retreat,  on  the  evening  of  a  particular  day,  accompanied  by  a  great  multitude, 
St.  Patrick,  it  is  said,  came  to  demand  hospitality.  Then,  the  nuns  of  St. 
Laisre's  church,9  being  concerned  about  the  poor  provision  made  in  that 
place  for  entertaining  such  a  number  of  persons,  manifested  their  inquietude 
to  St.  Brigid.  She  enquired,  what  store  they  possessed.  Being  told,  they 
had  only  twelve  loaves,  an  tgg,  and  a  little  milk,^°  which  were  prepared  for 
herself  and  her  sisters,  our  holy  abbess  repHed,  that  these  should  prove 
sufficient  for  a  great  number  of  persons,  through  God's  bounty.  She  then 
required  the  Sacred  Scriptures  to  be  read,  so  that  their  corporal  necessities 
might  presently  be  forgotten.  St.  Brigid  and  St.  Patrick  afterwards  partook 
of  some  food,  which  had  been  prepared.  The  quantity  of  provisions  greatly 
increased,  even  when  their  repast  concluded.  St.  Lasrea  then  offered  her 
place  to  God  and  to  St.  Brigid,  for  ever."  This  account  seems  to  indicate, 
that  previously,  it  had  been  a  convent  and  not  subject  to  her  jurisdiction. 

Our  Divine  Redeemer  proclaimed,  "  Blessed  are  the  peace-makers,  for 
they  shall  be  called  the  children  of  God.''^^*  While  holy  Brigid  remained  at 
the  nunnery  of  St.  Lasara,  a  certain  man,  whose  wife  bore  him  some  un- 
accountable aversion,  came  to  the  virgin.  He  entreated,  that  she  should 
employ  her  pious  offices  for  the  restoration  of  a  connubial  love,  which  ought 
to  exist  between  himself  and  his  companion.  Then,  Christ's  holy  spouse, 
blessing  some  water,  ordered  the  man  to  sprinkle  his  house  with  it,  in  God's 
name.^3  This  order  he  obeyed.  During  the  absence  of  his  wife,  food  and 
drink,  with  his  bed,  were  aspersed  by  him.     When  she  returned  home,^*  her 


Tallagh,  and  Cathal  Maguire  treat  concern- 
ing her  at  the  1 8th  of  February,  and  at  the 
29th  of  March,  in  the  opinion  of  Colgan. 
See  "Trias  Thaumaturga, "  n.  21,  p.  543. 

3  About  the  year  520,  his  great-grand- 
daughter, St.  Lasre,  flourished,  on  the 
borders  of  Meath  and  Leinster.  She  was 
a  disciple  to  St.  Finnian  of  Clonard,  as  may 
be  seen  in  the  twenty-second  chapter  of  his 
life,  and  also  in  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  the 
Life  of  St.  Kieran  of  Clonmacnoise. 

^The  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  as- 
sumes it  as  established,  in  his  work,  "La 
Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."  Libro  Quarto,  p.  265.  For  the 
use  of  this  very  rare  work,  the  writer  is  in- 
debted to  its  learned  and  courteous  owner, 
Jasper  Robert  Joly,  LLD.,  38  Rathmines, 
Dublin. 

s  In  an  Irish  life  of  our  saint,  at  chapter 
xxviii. 

6  In  Latin  "  Cella  S.  Lassaroe." 

f  The  time  and  place  are  thought  by  Col- 
gan to  favour  such  identity. 

^  There  are  at  least  fifteen  or  sixteen  holy 
virgins,  called  Lassara,  Lassar  or  Lasrea,  in 
our  Irish  maenologies.  Marianus  Gorman, 
the  Martyrologies  of  Tallagh,  of  Cathal  Ma- 
guire, and  of  Donegal,  name  them  at  the 
dates  of  their  respective  festivals,  which  are 
enumerated  at  the  6th  of  January,  where  the 


first  of  these  occurs. 

9  There  are  many  churches  bearing  such  a 
name  in  Ireland.  One  of  these  was  in  Ulster, 
during  Colgan's  time.  It  was  a  parish  church 
of  Clogher  diocese,  and  situated  on  the  banks 
of  a  lake  called  Lochmacnen.  Allusion  has 
been  made  to  it,  in  the  notices  of  St.  Lassar 
of  Achadh-foda.  There  was  another  in  the 
diocese  of  Lismore,  in  Munster.  A  third 
was  in  Elphin  diocese,  in  the  territory  Oirecht 
Hymainnin  ;  while,  a  fourth  was  in  the  dio- 
cese of  Achonry,  and  within  the  territory  of 
Lugny  :  both  these  latter  being  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Connaught.  But,  from  circumstances 
of  this  relation  and  place,  none  of  the  afore- 
mentioned churches  seem  to  be  here  alluded 
to. 

'°In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  "a  sheep"  is  added  to  these 
resources,  pp .  25,  26. 

"See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.*  Brigidae,  lib.  i,,  cap.  xlvi., 
p.  549.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidos,  cap.  xliv., 
p.  531.     Ibid. 

'^St.  Matt,  v.,  9. 

'3  In  his  usual  erudite  and  fanciful  manner, 
Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  has  amplified 
his  narrative  of  this  incident.  See  "  La 
Santiti  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  269  to  272. 

**This  was  at  Killassair,   according   to 


February  l]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


79 


heart  filled  with  affection  towards  her  husband,  while  their  mutual  harmony 
and  love  continued  so  long  as  they  lived. '5  At  this  time,  also,  St.  Brigid 
was  visited  by  a  certain  virgin,  descended  from  the  race  of  Guais  or  Guas- 
sius.^*5  Their  district  was  in  Meath,  where  they  were  known  as  the  Hi  Mac 
Huais.^7  This  virgin  sought  alms  from  every  house  in  the  kingdom. 
Brigid  said  to  her :  "  I  will  give  you  either  my  cloak,  or  a  heifer  lately  pre- 
sented to  me.'^  The  religious  told  our  saint,  that  neither  of  these  gifts 
could  profit  her,  for  way-side  robbers  might  deprive  her  of  them.  Brigid 
then  asked  her  visitor,  if  she  would  receive  a  girdle,  worn  by  herself,  and 
which  should  heal  several  kinds  of  diseases,  prevailing  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  provided  this  zone  were  immersed  in  water,  the  name  of  Christ 
being  also  invoked.  The  virgin'9  received  this  gift  from  our  saint  very 
thankfully.  Taking  the  girdle,  she  first  went  to  a  certain  boy,  who  was  sick, 
and  who  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  parents.  The  Almighty  was  pleased  to 
restore  him  to  health,  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  Brigidine  relic.=*° 
That  virgin  in  like  manner  was  enabled  to  heal  many,  who  were  sick,  so 
long  as  she  lived.^^  According  to  St.  Brigid's  prediction,  she  even  received 
several  presents  in  return  for  such  services.  With  the  gifts  thus  acquired, 
she  bought  lands,  giving  all  the  wealth  she  possessed  to  the  poor.  While 
living  a  chaste  and  holy  life,  she  became  a  distinguished  saint. ^*  Her  name, 
however,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  recorded. 

Another  time,  St.  Brigid  went  into  the  district  of  Feara  Ross.'3  Having 
been  requested  by  some  persons,  the  Abbess  visited  a  king,  living  in  the  plain 
of  Breagh,24  that  she  might  obtain  a  certain  man's  liberation.  This  person 
had  been  held  as  a  prisoner  by  the  dynast.     Our  holy  virgin  promised  a 


Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St,  Brigid. 
An  additional  incident  is  added  to  prove  the 
affection,  which  the  wife  evinced  for  her 
husband,  pp.  27,  28. 

'S  This  miraculous  renewal  of  affection  be- 
tween the  parties  is  related  in  the  sixth 
metrical  life  of  our  saint,  with  some  addi- 
tional particulars.  The  foUbwing  line  con- 
cludes this  narrative : — 

"  Virginis  ob  meritum  Christus  firmavit 
am  or  em." 
— Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga."     Sexta 
Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  xl.,  p.  590. 

/«*Thus  found  in  the  Third  and  Fourth 
Lives  of  our  saint.  In  a  note  thereon,  post- 
fixed  to  the  Third  Life,  Colgan  writes  an 
emendation,  that  in  the  Irish  idiom  this 
family  should  be  named  the  Mac-Huais. 
This  tribe's  name  they  took  from  an  old  and 
respectable  stock,  descended  from  Colla 
Huasius,  who  is  numbered  among  the  Irish 
kings.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  n.  22, 
p.  543- 

'7  The  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  has  it 
"Ella  era  d'vna  Regione  della  Media,  che 
allora  chiamausi  Nac-Hunis,  et  oggidi  vien 
detta  Hi  Machunis."— "La  Santita  Prodi- 
giosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibemese,"  libro 
quarto,  p.  272. 

^^This  narrative  is  somewhat  differently 
presented  in  the  Lections  taken  from  the 
Breviary  of  Aberdeen.  See  Bishop  Forbes' 
"Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 


'5  This  person  is  said  to  have  been  in  great 
misery,  before  St.  Brigid  bestowed  on  her 
the  gift.  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life 
of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  27,  28. 

^°  This  same  miracle  seems  the  one  alluded 
to,  in  the  metrical  life  of  our  saint ;  but,  in 
this  life,  it  is  said,  that  a  poor  man  was  the 
recipient  of  St.  Brigid's  girdle. 

^^  It  is  stated,  in  the  Sixth  Life,  that  by 
means  of  this  girdle,  many  miracles,  in 
favour  of  the  sick  and  afflicted,  had  been 
wrought,  throughout  the  districts  around 
Kildare.  These  miracles  are  said  to  have 
been  continued,  after  it  had  been  brought  to 
the  recipient's  country.  See  Sexta  Vita  S. 
Brigidse,  sec.  xxv.,  pp.  586,  587. 

^^  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
VitaTertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xlv.,  xlvi.,  and 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse  lib.  i.,  cap.  xlvii., 
xlviii.,  pp.  531,  549. 

^3  Which  means  "the  men  of  Ross. "  Pro- 
fessor O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 
pp.  29,  30.  This  was  a  tribe  and  territory, 
comprising  the  country  around  Carrickma* 
cross,  in  the  County  of  Monaghan,  and  a 
part  of  Louth  County.  See  "Three  Frag- 
ments, Copied  from  Ancient  Sources,  by 
Dubhaltach  Mac  Firbisigh,"  edited  with  a 
translation  and  notes,  by  John  O'Donovan, 
LL.D.,  p.  72,  n.  (b.) 

^'^  Otherwise,  Breaghmhagh,  or  Bregia, 
the  great  plain  of  Meath,  in  which  Tara  is 
situated.  See  "  The  Irish  Version  of  the 
Historia  Britonum  of  Nennius,"  edited  with 


3o  LIVJS.S  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


ransom  to  him  for  that  captive.  But  the  king  would  not  consent  to  release 
his  prisoner.  =^5  He  even  vowed,  this  man  should  be  put  to  death  on  the 
same  day ;  and  the  utmost  concession,  our  saint  could  obtain,  was  a  delay  of 
execution,  until  the  ensuing  night.  Accompanied  by  the  kindred  and  friends 
of  that  captive,  Brigid  went  at  night  to  the  place  where  he  was  confined ; 
and  while  her  companions  slept,  she  alone  remained  awake.  The  dynast's 
friends  said  to  him  :  "  Unless,  O  king,  thy  captive  be  put  to  death,  during 
this  night,  no  person  can  deprive  him  of  Hfe  on  to-morrow,  for  St.  Brigid 
will  liberate  'him.  We  have  held  a  council  amongst  ourselves,  resolving  to 
take  him  away  by  violence,  and  to  kill  him,  independently  of  your  wishes. 
This  course,  we  trust,  will  serve  to  your  being  considered  inculpable."  But 
the  holy  virgin  was  miraculously  admonished,  regarding  this  plot.  During 
the  first  night-watch,  a  vision  appeared  to  the  chained  man.  He  saw  Brigid 
standing  near  him,  and  he  heard  her  pronounce  these  words  :  "  Behold,  evil 
men  are  intent  on  killing  thee  this  night,  but  when  thou  art  dragged  to 
death,  thou  shalt  often  call  on  me  by  name.  And  when  the  chain  shall  have 
been  removed  from  thy  neck,  that  they  may  proceed  to  murder  thee,  slip 
away  from  thy  executioners,  on  the  right  side,  and  thou  wilt  safely  escape 
from  them  to  your  friends."  After  this  announcement,  and  while  the  captive 
remained  awake,  his  executioners  came.  Removing  him  without  the  door 
of  the  king's  castle,  they  unbound  that  chain  which  confined  him.  We  are 
told,  this  man  immediately  escaped  from  their  hands,  and  without  molesta- 
tion, he  came  to  St.  Brigid ;  his  enemies,  meantime,  thinking  they  had  killed 
him  and  had  cut  off  his  head.  On  the  following  day,  however,  neither  his 
head  nor  body  could  be  seen,  and  this  man's  enemies  were  astonished  at  the 
result  of  their  search.  In  the  early  part  of  that  same  day,  Brigid  sent  a 
messenger  to  the  king,  with  a  true  account  concerning  the  transaction. 
Hearing  this,  the  dynast  repented  of  his  evil  intentions,  and  dismissed  all 
inimical  thoughts  towards  the  man,  on  account  of  that  veneration  he  enter- 
tained for  holy  Brigid. ^'^ 

One  of  the  holy  men,  who  had  been  distinguished  owing  to  his  virtues  in 
St.Brigid's  time,  was  Bishop  Ere  or  Ercus  of  Slane.='7  He  was  an  early 
convert  and  a  disciple  of  St.  Patrick. ^'^  This  Bishop  Erc's  immediate  progeni- 
tors and  family  lived  in  Munster ;  although,  he  descended  from  Fergus 
Rogius,^9  and  the  royal  line  of  Ulster  kings.3°    His  hermitage  was  at  Slane,3^ 


a  translation  and  notes  by  Dr.  James  Hen-  provinces  of  Ireland,  viz.,  in  Ulster,  Con- 
thorn    Todd   and  by  the   Hon.    Algernon  naught,  and  Munster. 
Herbert,  p.  124,  n.  (q.)  3ojrrom  this  line  descended  St.  Brendan 

^SThe  account  is  more  fully  given  in  Ab-  of  Birr,   St.  Caiman,  St.  Leathan,  St.  Ere, 

bate   D.    Giacomo  Certani's   "La   Santiti  bishop,  and  the  holy  sisters  Criada,  Derusia, 

Prodigiosa.    Vita  di   S.  Brigida  Ibemese,"  and  Sincha,  daughters  of  Ernan.    According 

libro  quinto,  pp.  354  to  359.  to  the  "  Sanctilogic  Genealogy,"  chap.  30, 

^See   Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturga. "  these  were  near  relatives  of  St.  Brendan. 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxix..  In  this  old  record,  the  several  holy  persons 

p.  556.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida:,  cap.  enumerated  are  derived  from  their  common 

Ixviii.,  p.  535.     Ibid.  progenitor,    Corb.     See    "Trias   Thauma- 

=^7  His  festival  occurs  at  the  2nd  of  No-  turga."    Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidas,  nn.  42,  43, 

vember.  p.  544. 

=*  In  addition  to  this,  D.  Giacomo  Certani  3'  In  the  "  Diocese  of  Meath,  Ancient  and 

makes  him,  absurdly  enough,  a  Canon  Re-  Modem,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  xxxix.,  p.  297,  the 

gular  of  St.  Augustine.     See  "La  Santiti  Rev.   Anthony  Cogan  writes  in  sympathy 

Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibemese,"  with  his  subject.    '*  The  Rev.  Mervyn  Arch- 

libro  quinto,  p.  362.  dall,  Protestant  Rector  of  Slane,  the  distin- 

=9  His  son  was   Corb,  sumamed   Ulom.  guished  author  of  the  Monasticon  Ilibcrtiicum 

Eight  sons  of  this  Ferguss,  with  their  pos-  and  of  the  Peerage  of  Ireland,  is  buried  in 

terity,  held  large  tracts  of  land,  indifferent  the  Protestant  churchyard  of  Slane.     He 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


8i 


on  the  banks  of  the  Boyne,  and  it  stood  in  a  most  charming  locality. 3'    Here 
too,  at  the  present  time,  may  be  seen  some  most  interesting  relics  of  our 


Franciscan  Abbey  Ruins,  at  Slane. 
ancestors'  piety. 33    Beside  that  romantically  situated  cell  of  the  holy  man, 


was  an  indefatigable  compiler,  and  to  his 
valuable  labours  we  are  all  indebted  for  much 
interesting  information.  Over  his  remains 
a  monument  has  been  erected,  with  the  fol« 
lowing  inscription : — 

'  We  shall  also  bear  the  image  of  the 
Heavenly.' 

Sacred  to  the  Memory 

of 

Mervyn  Archdall,  A.m., 

Rector  of  this  Parish, 
Who    died  the  6th  August, 

1791- 

Aged  68  years." 

3=  A  very  interesting  history  and  descrip- 
tion of  Slane — so  associated  with  early  and 
closing  scenes  of  the  amiable  and  learned 
writer's  life — will  be  found  in  the  Rev. 
Anthony  Cogan's  **  Diocese  of  Meath,  An- 
cient and  Modern,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  pp. 
58  to  64,  and  chap,  xxxix.,  pp.  283  to  297. 
The  lamented  deceased  was  a  native  of  Slane, 
where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1826.  He 
was  ordained  a  priest  A.D.  1 850.  As  a 
lecturer  and  pulpit  orator,  he  was  highly 
distinguished.  By  the  admirable  work  he 
published  in  three  octavo  volumes,  an  in- 
calculable service  was  rendered  to  the  dio- 
cese of  Meath.    Attached  as  dean  to  the 

Vol.  II. 


Diocesan  Seminary  of  Navan,  he  won  all 
hearts  by  his  goodness  and  gentleness.  His 
collegiate  duties  were  faithfully  discharged  ; 
while  his  literary  labours  were  of  a  peculiarly 
arduous  nature,  and  must,  no  doubt,  have 
greatly  tended  to  undermine  his  constitution. 
In  his  preface  to  the  first  volume  the  author 
says  :  "I  went  from  churchyard  to  church- 
yard, taking  the  dimensions  of  the  existing 
ruins,  deciphering  the  tombs  of  priests,  tran- 
scribing the  inscriptions  on  the  pedestals  of 
old  chalices,  searching  the  registers,  gather- 
ing old  documents  and  letters  of  the  aeceased 
pastors,  examining  the  lists  of  subscribers 
catalogued  in  old  books,  visiting  the  old 
crosses  and  the  holy  wells,  and  taking  notes 
of  every  surviving  memorial  of  the  faith  and 
piety  of  the  people,"  p.  viii.  In  declining 
health,  "It  is  strange,"  he  often  observed 
to  his  friends,  "  I  believe  that  I  had  a  voca- 
tion to  write  this  work,  and  I  should  not  be 
surprised  if  God  would  call  me  soon,  since  I 
have  finished  my  labours."  He  departed 
this  life  on  Saturday,  January  28th,  1872, 
at  Slane,  with  his  relatives  so  dearly  loved 
by  his  bedside,  at  the  comparatively  early 
age  of  46.  He  was  buried  on  the  following 
Monday,  in  the  Parish  Church  of  Slane, 
where  a  handsome  public  monument  has 
been  erected  to  commemorate  his  worth  and 
services. 
33  The  accompanying  engraving,  by  Mm, 
0 


S2 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.      [February  i. 


yet  visited  by  so  many  pilgrims  of  taste,  who  delight  to  wander  along  the  wind- 
ing waters  of  the  Boyne,  some  towering  and  extensive  abbey  ruins34  crown  a 
magnificent  height,  which  presents  a  vast  view  over  one  of  the  most  lovely 
landscapes  in  Ireland. 35  A  fine,  lofty,  and  nearly  perfect  abbey-tower 
dominates  over  the  deserted  and  ruinous  cloisters  beside  it.s^  A  much 
frequented  graveyard  surrounds  the  ruined  Franciscan  monastery,  that  had 
been  founded  here  a.d.  1512.37  The  pious  and  noble  Flemings's^  pile  of  build- 
ings was  soon  diverted  to  secular  purposes,  while  the  church  and  monastic 
portions  gradually  fell  into  decay,  It  is  said,  that  several  fragments  of  St. 
Erc's  ancient  hermitage  and  some  ornamental  details  were  taken  from  the 
older  ruin,  and  inserted  in  the  more  modern  erection. 

With  blessed  Ere,  the  great  St.  Brigid  was  specially  intimate  and  bound 
by  ties  of  holy  friendship.  This  appears  from  her  Acts,  and  it  is  supposed,39 
that  about  the  year  484,  she  was  his  travelling  companion  to  his  native  pro- 
vince.-*®  Such  tour  of  the  holy  abbess  possibly  preceded  one  she  made  to 
Connaught  •*'^  although,  indeed,  this  matter  has  not  been  very  clearly  estab- 
lished. "^^  St.  Brigid  entertained  a  great  incHnation  to  see  certain  consecrated 
places  and  holy  persons  in  Munster ;  but,  according  to  another  account,  her 
visit  there  was  induced,  through  a  desire  to  accompany  St.  Ere  on  a  visit 
towards  that  country,  where  his  relatives  lived. '^3  One  day,  while  prosecuting 
their  journey,  St.  Brigid  said  to  the  bishop,  "  O  venerable  father,  point  out 
to  me  the  quarter  of  Munster,  in  which  your  family  resides."  When  the 
bishop  had  complied  with  her  request,  the  holy  virgin  exclaimed  in  continua- 
tion, "  At  present,  a  war  is  there  waging,  between  your  tribe  and  another 
clan."  The  bishop  replied  to  her :  "  O  holy  mother,  I  believe  what  thou 
hast  told  me  is  true,  for  when  I  last  left  them  to  see  you,  they  were  in  a 
state  of  discord."  Then  Brigid  cried  out,  "  O  Father,  your  people  are  now 
routed."     One  of  St.  Erc's  disciples, 44  hereupon,  thoughtlessly  remarked  to 


\ 


Millard,  Dublin,  from  a  drawing  made  on 
the  spot,  represents  the  ruins  of  the  Fran- 
ciscan monastery  at  Slane. 

3*  At  Slane,  it  is  said,  Dagobert,  King  of 
Austrasia,  took  refuge,  when  he  was  ban- 
ished into  Ireland,  by  Grimoald,  Mayor  of 
the  Palace,  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  and 
A.D.  653. 

35  Canons  Regular  of  St.  Augustine  have 
been  placed  here  by  Harris,  and  St.  Patrick 
is  called  the  founder  in  the  sixth  century. 
See  Harris' Ware,  vol.  ii.,  "Antiquities  of 
Ireland,"  chap,  xxxviii.,  p.  264.  But,  Sir 
James  Ware  more  sensibly  states,  that 
Christopher  Fleming,  Baron  of  Slane,  and 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  Stukely,  were  the  foun- 
ders. In  the  charter  of  its  foundation,  it  is 
stated,  to  have  been  "in  loco  Hermitorii 
S.  Erci."  See  "De  Hibernia  et  Antiqui- 
tatibus  ejus,"  cap.  xxvi.,  pp.  167,  168. 

3*  A  very  inexact  engraving  of  this  ivy- 
shrouded  object  is  presented  in  the  "Dublin 
Penny  Journal,"  vol.  ii.,  No.  102,  p.  393. 

37  See  Archdall's  "Mopasticon  Hibemi- 
cum,"  pp.  572,  573. 

3^  See  some  account  of  them  in  Rev.  C. 
P.  Meehan's  "  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Irish 
Franciscan  Monasteries  and  Memoirs  of  the 
Irish  Hierarchy  in  the  Seventeenth  Century," 
ohap.  ill.,  pp.  144  to  156. 


39  By  Dr.  Lanigan. 

4°  Whether  this  or  the  Connaught  journey 
took  place,  before  or  after  the  foundation  of 
her  nunnery  at  Kildare,  seems  uncertain. 
Perhaps,  she  made  more  journeys  than  one 
to  either  province,  for  she  appears  to  have 
been  an  indefatigable  traveller  on  her  holy 
missions,  like  the  great  Apostle  St.  Patrick. 

4'  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  x., 
n.  116,  p.  407. 

4=  In  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  he  gives  precedence  to  the  holy 
woman's  Munster  visit,  in  the  order  of  nar- 
rative. See  chap,  iv.,  v.,  pp.  50  to  56. 
Some  of  her  Latin  Acts  seem  to  reverse  this 
arrangement.  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani — 
no  great  historical  authority,  however — 
places  the  Connaught  journey  after  the 
Munster  one.  See  "  La  Santiti  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese,"  libro  quinto, 
pp.  362  to  404.     See  also  p.  408,  et  seq. 

♦3  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  iv., 

P-  389- 

■♦^  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid  he  is  called  a  clerical  student, 
while  it  is  stated  St.  Brigid  and  Bishop  Ere 
were  in  Leinster,  at  the  time  of  this  occur- 
rence, pp.  41,  42. 


February  i.]         LIVES  OB  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  83 


the  holy  abbess,  "  How  are  you  able  to  see  the  fight  at  such  a  distance  ?" 
The  bishop  reproved  this  incredulity  for  his  not  recognising  the  Holy  Spirit's 
illuminating  gifts  conferred  on  a  virgin,  who  was  blessed  both  in  soul  and 
body.  Then  said  P^c  to  our  saint :  "  O  servant  of  God,  sign  our  eyes  that 
we  may  witness  those  things  thou  seest."  The  spouse  of  Christ  immediately 
complied  with  this  request,  so  that  they  clearly  observed  the  battle's  progress. 
Looking  on,  in  great  griet,  his  disciple  cried  out  to  Bishop  Ere :  "Alas! 
also,  my  Lord,  at  this  moment,  my  eyes  behold  the  decapitation  of  two 
brothers."  The  result  of  enquiry  established  the  reaHty  this  vision  detailed.-^s 
Afterwards,  in  a  certain  place,  and  near  a  mountain,  the  holy  Bishop  Erc^^ 
and  the  sanctified  virgin  Brigid  sat  down,  with  their  attendants.  These 
were  greatly  fatigued  after  their  journey,  and  they  experienced  great  hunger. 
A  youth  in  their  company  thereupon  remarked,  that  whoever  gave  them 
food  should  confer  a  great  charity  on  them.  St.  Brigid  then  said,  "  I  pre- 
dict, that  if  food  and  drink  be  required,  you  must  wait  awhile  in  expectation 
of  assistance  from  on  high;  because,  I  behold  a  house,  in  which  they  are 
to-day  preparing  alms  for  a  certain  church.  Within  an  hour  it  shall  come 
here,  and  even  now  it  is  put  up  lor  us  in  packages."  While  our  saint  was 
speaking,  refreshment  carriers  arrived,  and  when  they  had  learned  th'e  illustrious 
Brigid  and  holy  Bishop  Ere,  with  their  disciples,  were  there,  those  bearers 
greatly  rejoiced  to  relieve  their  wants.  Alms  were  presented  to  the  famished 
travellers,  with  such  words  :  "  Receive  those  refreshments,  which  God  Him- 
self hath  intended  for  you,  as  your  wants  and  merits  should  be  taken  into 
consideration,  before  those  of  any  other  congregation."  Giving  God  thanks, 
our  travellers  partook  of  this  food  presented ;  yet,  as  they  only  received 
edibles,  some  drink  was  required,  likewise,  to  allay  their  thirst.  Then 
Brigid  told  them  to  dig  the  earth  near  this  spot.47  On  obeying  her  order,  a 
spring  of  clear  water  issued  from  the  ground.  Afterwards,  it  bore  the  name 
of  St.  Brigid's  well,  and  it  might  be  seen  at  the  time  our  virgin's  Third  and 
Fourth  Lives  had  been  written.^^ 

The  holy  travellers  subsequently  visited  Magh'Femyn,49  at  a  time  when 
a  great  Synod  of  Saints  was  there  assembled. 5°  They  were  obliged  to  re- 
main at  that  synod. 5"^  The  holy  Bishop  Ere  gave  an  account  of  those 
miracles  wrought  by  our  saint,  while  he  was  assisting  at  this  council. 5»  The 
neighbouring  inhabitants,  hearing  that  Brigid  was  there,  brought  many 
infirm  persons  to  her,  that  she  might  heal  them.  Among  these  were  in- 
cluded some  lame,  leprous,  and  demented  persons. 53     Such  fortunate  patients 

*5Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  has  a  la-  544. 

boured  account  of  the  foregoing  incidents.  5°  We  appear  to  have  no  other  historical 

See   "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  notices  regarding  this  synod  preserved.     It 

Brigida  Ibemese,"  libro  quinto,  pp.  362  to  does  not  occur  in  the  List  of  Councils,  con- 

368.  tained  in  Sir  Harris  Nicolas'  "Chronology 

4^  In  the  Third  Life  of  St.   Brigid,    the  of  History,"  pp.  21210269. 

words  *' Bronus  Episcopus"  are  introduced  S' See   "The  Life  of  St.   Brigid,"  by  an 

erroneously,  as  is  evident  Irom  the  context.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  51. 

*i  See  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Santiti  s^  Near  Fethart,  in  the  county  of  Tipper- 

Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibemese,"  ary,  there  is  a  Kilbride  ;  but,  it  is  not  known 

libro  quinto,  pp.  368,  369.  to  have  been  erected  by  St.  Brigid,  or  to 

■♦"See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  indicate  the  site  of  any  residence,  which 

Vita  Quarta  S.    Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlii.,  had  ever  any  connexion  with  her,  and  which 

xliii.,   pp.   556,  557.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  existed   in   the   neighbourhood.       See   Dr. 

Brigidae,  cap.  Ixxi.,  pp.  535,  536.     Ibid.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire- 

*^  Otherwise,     Magh-Femhin,     or    "the  land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  iv.,  and  nn. 

plain  of  Femhin,"  winch  is  a  celebrated  and  51,  52,  pp.  389,  390. 

extensive  level  in  the  territory  ol  the  Decies  53  See  "  La  Santitk  Prodigiosa.    Vita  di 

inMunster.     See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thauma-  S.  Brigida  Ibemese,"  libro  quinto,  pp.  369 

turga."    Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  n  45,  p.  to  373. 


84  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


were  released  from  their  several  afflictions,  through  Divine  assistance,  and 
the  prayers  of  our  merciful  saint. 54 

After  this,  Brigid  went  to  a  place,  adjoining  the  sea,  and  at  no  great  distance 
from  that  house  in  which  Bishop  Ere  then  dwelt.ss  Here  she  remained  for 
a  long  time,  with  her  companions. s^  An  anchoret  lived  not  far  from  them. 
He  was  a  most  devout  and  perfect  man.  Wishing  to  avoid  all  female 
society,  he  sought  a  desert  place  for  his  habitation,  and  directed  his  course 
to  an  island.s7  While  on  his  way  thither,  he  came  near  a  cell,  in  which 
St.  Brigid  lodged.  The  disciples  of  the  anchoret  said  to  him  :  "  O  Father, 
let  us  visit  holy  Brigid,  that  she  may  bless  us."  The  anchoret  replied: 
"  My  children,  you  know  already  my  vow  to  visit  no  woman.^ss  Then 
continuing  their  course,  they  recollected,  in  the  evening  when  they  had 
reached  a  hospice,  that  some  of  their  luggage  had  been  left  behind.  It  was 
generally  supposed,  this  loss  of  their  effects  occurred,  through  their  neglect 
of  visiting  our  saint  to  receive  her  blessing,  and  they  resolved  to  fast  that 
night,  in  atonement  for  their  fault.  After  these  religious  men  had  taken 
their  departure,  St.  Brigid  was  inspired  to  address  the  following  words  to  her 
nuns  :  "  Go  and  bring  hither  the  property  of  God's  servants,  and  which  has 
been  left  behind  on  the  road  near  to  us."  On  the  following  morning,  the 
monks  went  back  to  Brigid,  and  found  their  effects  in  her  safe  keeping. 
The  holy  anchoret  and  his  disciples  remained  three  days  and  as  many  nights, 
near  to  where  she  lived.  All  offered  joint  prayers  to  Heaven.  God's  holy 
word59  was  preached,  likewise,  during  this  visit. 

Those  devout  men  afterwards  prosecuted  their  course,  and  St.  Brigid 
comphed  with  their  wishes,  by  accompanying  them  one  day's  journey..  Our 
pious  virgin  had  compassion  on  those  disciples  of  the  anchoret,  for  she  saw 
their  burdens  were  too  heavy.  Beholding  two  horses  descend  towards  her 
from  a  neighbouring  mountain,  she  ordered  their  baggage  to  be  placed  on 
these  animals.  When  the  end  of  that  day's  journey  had  been  accomplished, 
Brigid  wished  the  return  of  those  horses  to  their  owners.  Her  desire  was 
accomplished,  although  none  of  the  company  knew  whence  they  came,  or  to 
whom  they  belonged.  Parting  with  those  religious  men,  St.  Brigid  bestowed 
her  benediction  on  them.  Afterwards,  she  returned  towards  her  cell. 
When  that  anchoret  came  to  the  island  of  his  selection,  a  man  who  had 
previous  possession  entered  it,  with  his  wife,  sons,  daughters,  and  servants.^ 


5*  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Vita  sible  conjecture,  that  it  might  have  been  a 

Quarta   S.   Brigidfe,   lib.  ii.,  cap.  xliv,,  p.  St.  Killian,  whose  festival  occurs  on  the  3rd 

557.     Also,    Vita  Tertia   S.  Brigidae,   cap.  of  March,   and  who  dwelt  in  the  island  of 

Ixxii.,  p.  536.     Ibid.  Inisdoimle,  within  the  bounds  of  Munster. 

55 Dr.  Lanigan  says  the  place  is  now  known  Perhaps  it  was  St.  Barrindus,  or  Bairrfinn, 

as    Kilbride,     near    Tramore,     Waterford  who  is  venerated  on  the  30th  of  January,  in 

County.      See    "Ecclesiastical   History  of  the  same  place.    See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  iv.,  and  n.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidas,  n.  47,  p.  544. 
54,  pp.  390,  391.  58 See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 

5^  The  Third  Life  of  our  saint  says,  that  Santiti  Prodigiosa.    Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 

she  remained  here  for  some  years.     Colgan  nese,"  libro  quinto,  p.  375. 
thinks,  this  place  where  she  lived  must  have  S9  See   Colgan's  *'  Trias    Thaumaturga." 

been  a  church,  called  Killbrighde,   or   St.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlv., 

Brigid's  cell,  in  Kill-medain  Deanery.    This  p.  557.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 

place   is  to  be  found    in    a  catalogue    of  Ixxiii.,  p.  536.     Ibid. 

churches,  belonging  to  the  Waterford  dio-  ^  See  this   account  amplified  and    em- 

cese.     See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  bellished  with  illustrative  observations,  ac- 

Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Ixxiii.,  and  n.  cording  to  his  usual  pedantic  style  of  quot- 

46,  pp.  536,  544.  ing  classical  and  sacred  writings,  in  Abbate 

57  Colgan  is  unable  to  identify  the  particu-  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Santiti  Prodi- 

lar  anchorite,  who  is  said  here  to  have  lived  giosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibemese,"  librg 

in  this  Munster  island.     He  hazards  a  pos-  quinto,  pp.  378  to  385. 


\ 


February  i.]       Z/FES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  85 


Some  cattle,  also,  he  wished  should  graze  there  during  the  summer  season. 
The  holy  anchoret,  who  had  so  much  desired  separation  from  worldlings, 
besought  this  man  to  leave  the  place.  To  such  a  request,  the  latter  would 
not  accede,  saying  that  he  held  this  island  as  a  portion  of  his  paternal  in- 
heritance. The  anchoret  then  sent  for  St.  Brigid,  to  exert  her  influence  in 
his  behalf;  and,  when  the  holy  virgin  came  to  the  place,  she  vainly  pleaded 
with  the  proprietor  to  relinquish  his  claim.  On  the  day  following,  however, 
a  large  eagle  came  and  bore  off  through  air  this  man's  infant  son.  The 
proprietor's  wife  and  the  child's  mother  came  to  St.  Brigid.  Her  interposi- 
tion was  sought  with  tears  and  lamentations.  Our  holy  virgin  said  :  "  Weep  not, 
for  your  infant  lives."  The  eagle  brought  her  child  back  and  left  him  safely 
on  the  shore.  The  infant's  father  was  still  obdurate,  and  dwelt  near  the 
place,  which  he  was  unwilling  to  leave ;  but,  on  the  following  day.  Divine 
Omnipotence  wrought  a  miracle,  which  proved  the  cause  of  his  conversion. 
The  proprietor's  heart  was  now  touched,  and  he  repented  his  former 
obstinacy.  Afterwards,  he  devoted  himself  to  God  and  to  St.  Brigid,  pro- 
mising he  would  not  enter  into  that  island,  without  the  anchoret's  permission.^* 
On  another  day,  while  St.  Brigid  remained  here,  some  religious  guests 
came  to  visit  her.^^  Our  saint  gave  a  fisherman  directions  to  kill  seals,  and 
to  proceed  out  towards  the  sea,  in  search  of  something  for  her  guests.^3 
The  fisherman  took  his  lance,  or  harpoon,  which  served  to  capture  marine 
creatures.  When  he  had  sailed  out  to  sea,  a  seal  crossed  his  course. 
Raising  his  harpoon,  it  was  driven  home  into  the  animal's  head,  while  a  rope 
attached  to  it  remained  in  the  fisherman's  hand.  Having  received  a  deadly 
wound,  this  seal  drew  the  mariner  and  his  bark  out  towards  the  deep.  Nor 
was  his  course  stayed,  until  the  shore  of  a  certain  island,'^^  lying  far  away  in 
the  ocean  was  reached.  There  the  rope  was  cut,  while  the  mariner  reached 
shore  in  his  boat.  That  seal,  however,  with  the  harpoon  fixed  in  his  head, 
took  an  opposite  direction.  It  swam  in  a  direct  line  towards  the  shore  of 
that  place,  where  St.  Brigid  dwelt,  and  there  the  animal  died.  The  Britons 
gave  the  man  a  currach  to  return,^5  and,  trusting  in  Divine  Providence,  as 
also  on  St.  Brigid's  protection,  the  fisher  set  out  in  this  frail  bark.  Through 
God's  blessing,  he  fortunately  reached  that  port  from  which  he  had  started, 
about  the  sixth  hour.^^  There  he  found  the  seal,  lying  on  the  sea-shore,^7 
and  with  the  lance  fastened  in  him.  Entering  their  house,  he  gave  an  ac- 
count, setting  forth  those  incidents  of  his  voyage,  to  all  the  religious  in- 
mates.^^ 


^*  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga."  ^3  According  to  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlvi,,  Life  of  St.  lirigid,  this  incident  occurred  at 

xlvii.,  p.  557.    Also,  VitaTertia  S.  Brigidse,  Tealagh  (Tealuch  na  Nespoc),  in  the  west 

cap.  Ixxiii.,  p.  536.     Ibid.     These  circum-  (east?)  of  Leinster,  where  pious  nobles, /,^., 

stances  are  related,  likewise,  with  some  ad-  seven  bishops,  were  her  guests,  pp.  37,  38. 

ditions  and  changes,  in  the  Sixth  Metrical  ^^  Possibly  the  Isle  of  Man. 

Life  of  our  saint.     It  is  there  stated,  that  ^s  Such  is  the  account  in  Professor  O'Loo- 

the  anchoret  was  a  priest,  and  that  he  was  ney's  Manuscript. 

obliged  to  sail  over  in  a  vessel  to  the  island,  ^  In  the  morning  he  went  across  the  Bri- 

when  he  came  to  a  seaport.  That  child  taken  tish  sea,   and  arrived  back  at  mid-day,  is 

away  by  the  eagle  is  said  to  have  been  the  stated  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Manuscript 

only  charge  his  parents  had,  and  in  conse-  **7  *'  Qf  the  Leinster  sea  at  this  side"  is 

quence  he  was  , greatly  beloved  by  them.  stated  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Manuscript. 

See  Vita  Sexta  S.   Brigidse,  sees,  xx.,  xxi.,  ^''Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"   Vita 

xxii.,  xxiii.,  pp.  585,  586.     Ibid.  Quarta  S.   Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlviii.,  p. 

^^  See  this  account  as  given  by  Abbate  D.  557.     In  the  Third  Life  of  our  saint,  it  is 

Giacomo  Certani,  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  said,  that  the  fisherman  was  dragged  by  the 

Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."   Libro  Quinto,  wounded  seal  to  the  British  coast,  when  the 

pp.  385  to  387.      He  places  the  incident  rope  was  cut  by  a  rock  on  the  sea-shore, 

here  narrated  at  Kill-Medain.  See  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Ixxiv.,  p. 


86  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i, 


Aften^^ards,  St.  Brigid,  with  her  nuns,  went  towards  Cliach  plain,^9  in  the 
county  of  Limerick,  and  province  of  Munster.7°  At  a  certain  place  there,  she 
remained  for  some  time.  During  this  interim,  a  fugitive  female  servant  came 
to  her,  for  she  had  left  a  mistress  whose  bearing  was  intolerable.  However, 
following  this  servant,  the  mistress  intended  to  bring  her  back  ;  but,  Brigid, 
wishing  to  procure  the  captive  liberty,  besought  her  manumission.  That 
female  slave-owner  would  not  agree  to  her  proposition,  as  the  servant  wove 
valuable  stuffs.  The  imperious  dame,  taking  her  maid  by  the  hand,  even 
proceeded  to  drag  her,  with  some  degree  of  violence,  from  the  saint's  side. 
Such  conduct  greatly  displeased  Brigid,  and  when  the  servant  had  been 
drawn  a  certain  distance  from  her,  the  tyrannical  mistress's  right  hand,  which 
held  the  slave,  immediately  withered.  Then  sorrowfully  the  dame  wept, 
finding  herself  unable  to  move  her  hand.  On  retiring,  she  repented  this 
violence.  She  restored  her  maid  to  freedom,  and  at  the  same  time  sent  her 
to  our  saint.  Immediately  afterwards,  the  woman's  hand  recovered  its  former 
strength.  7^ 

Referable  to  the  fine  early  national  taste  for  music  and  poetry,  in  alluding 
to  the  succeeding  incident  recorded  in  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  an  agreeable  French 
writer  observes,  that,  as  being  children  of  Erin,  austere  eremites,  contem- 
plative virgins,  grave  abbots,  and  venerable  bishops,  heard  with  delight  the 
metallic  harp-strings  vibrate  harmoniously,  where  such  practices  were  fos- 
tered.7'  When  St.  Bridget  visited  the  county  of  Limerick,  she  had  an  inter- 
view with  a  chieftain,  who  lived  there  in  Cliach  plain. 73  This  district 
stretched  over  the  country  around  Knockany,  and  it  embraced  in  part  the 
barony  of  Conagh.74  St.  Brigid  had  been  asked  to  procure  liberty  for  a 
certain  captive ;  but,  when  she  came  to  the  chiefs  house  for  such  a  purpose, 
he  was  not  at  home.  The  chief's  foster-father  and  his  children,  however, 
were  in  the  house.  St.  Brigid  asked  them  to  play  upon  harps,  which  were 
hanging  there,  but  they  told  her  that  the  harpers  were  away.  Hereupon, 
some  of  Brigid's  companions  jocularly  remarked,  they  should  try  their  skill, 
as  the  saint  would  bless  their  hands,  and  enable  them  to  play,  if  they  only 
attempted  it.  Then,  the  chief's  foster-father,  with  his  sons,  said,  "  May 
God's  saint  bestow  her  blessing  to  enable  us  to  harp  for  her."  Brigid  gave 
her  benediction  to  those,  who  were  ignorant  of  musical  art  or  notes.  Then 
they  played  with  all  the  skill  of  trained  harpers.  While  thus  engaged, 
the  chief  returned  towards  his  house.  Approaching  it,  he  asked  who  had 
produced  this  music  he  heard.  When  told  it  was  his  foster-father,  with  his 
sons,  and  at  St.  Brigid's  command,  the  chief  was  amazed.75  He  next  asked 
a  blessing  from  their  illustrious  visitor.  This  she  promised  to  bestow,  pro- 
vided he  would  liberate  the  captive.  With  her  request  he  complied.  The 
foster-father  and  his  sons  followed  the  profession  of  harpers  to  the  very  day 

536,  Ibid.  Ixxv.,  p.  536,  ibid. 

^Colgan  says,  this  appears  to  be  the  72  See  L.  Tachet  de  Bameval's  *' Histoire 

plain  in  Momonia  which   stretches  around  L^gendaire  de  I'lrlande,"  chap,   viii.,  pp. 

Cnoc  Aine   mountain,    for   the  district  in  79,  80. 

which  it  rises  is  called  Aine- Cliach.     See  ^3  it  jg  called  Aracliach  by  the  writers  of 

"Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri-  our  Irish  chronicles.     See  Colgan's  "Acta 

gidse,  n.  48,  p.  544.  Sanctorum  Hiberniae,"  Jan.   iii.,  p.  13,  n. 

7°  It  is  amusing  to  read  in  D.  Giacomo  4, 

Certani,  this  place  called  Aine  Chiac,  under  74  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 

the  mountain  of  Croc  Aine.    See  "La  San-  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,   viii.,  §  iv., 

tit^  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber-  and  n.  55,  pp.  390,  391,  and  chap,  vi.,  § 

nese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  387,  388.  viii.,  p.  287,  ibid. 

7' See  Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  75  See  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Santiti 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Biigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlix.,  p.  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di   S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 

^57.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidye,   cap.  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  392  to  395. 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  87 


of  their  death.  In  after  times,  their  posterity  even  became  esteemed  as  the 
bards  of  kings.7^ 

At  another  time,  two  lepers  visited  Brigid,  and  entreated  her  to  cleanse 
them  from  their  leprosy.  Then  praying  to  God,  the  saint  blessed  some 
water,  in  which  she  told  these  lepers  they  should  wash  each  other.77  While 
one  washed  his  companion,  this  latter  was  freed  from  his  leprosy.  Clean 
garments  were  then  put  upon  him.  The  virgin  afterwards  said  to  the  re- 
stored man,  "  Do  you,  in  like  manner,  wash  your  companion."  Finding 
that  he  was  cleansed  and  had  clean  garments,  the  person  addressed  felt 
pleased  at  his  good  fortune ;  but,  he  had  a  great  repugnance  to  touch  his 
afflicted  fellow-man.  Our  saint  observed,  he  should  do  for  his  neighbour, 
Avhat  he  wished  the  latter  to  do  for  him ;  yet,  still  he  objected  and  absolutely 
refused.  Then  Brigid,  rising  up,  washed  that  leper  with  her  own  hands, 
until  he  was  cleansed.  Afterwards,  she  had  him  clothed  with  clean  gar- 
ments. He  who  had  been  first  healed  then  said,  "  Just  now,  I  feel  sparks 
of  fire  settling  on  my  shoulders."  Immediately  his  whole  body  was  covered 
anew  with  leprosy,  as  a  punishment  for  his  pride  or  want  of  charity.  Thus 
was  fulfilled  that  Scripture  sentence,  "  He  who  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
humbled  ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted."78  The  restored 
man  rejoiced  and  gave  thanks  to  God,  who  had  healed  him,  through  Brigid's 
transcendent  merits.  79 

Two  other  lepers  seeking  alms  came  to  the  charitable  abbess.  But,  she 
had  nothing  to  give  at  the  time,  save  a  cow,  and  this  she  offered  for  division 
between  them.  One  gave  thanks  to  God  for  her  gift ;  but  the  other,  who 
was  proud  and  ungrateful,  said,  unless  the  whole  cow  were  bestowed,  he 
should  not  receive  that  part  of  it,  which  might  fall  to  his  lot.^°  Then  our 
saint  addressed  the  humble  leper  :  "  Do  you  wait  awhile  with  me,  until  the 
Lord  send  us  something,  and  let  the  other  man  have  this  cow  to  himself." 
The  covetous  man  departed  with  the  animal,  but  after  awhile  he  found  him- 
self unable  to  drive  it.  At  length,  wearied  with  such  vain  efforts,  he  re- 
turned to  St.  Brigid.  He  even  insulted  her  with  reproaches,  conveyed  in 
these  terms  :  "  I  could  not  urge  the  animal  forward,  because  you  have  not 
given  her,  with  a  willing  mind,  besides  you  are  too  exacting  and  severe." 
The  abbess  endeavoured  to  appease  him,  but  she  could  not  succeed.  This 
conduct,  so  perfectly  unjustifiable,  much  displeased  her.  At  length,  she 
said  to  the  insolent  fellow,  "  Thou  art  a  son  of  perdition,  and  your  cow  shall 
now  become  docile,  yet  this  shall  not  profit  you  in  the  least."  At  that 
very  moment,  a  man  presented  himself  with  a  cow,  which  he  destined  as  an 
offering  for  St.  Brigid.  This  gift,  however,  our  virgin  handed  over  to  the 
good  leper.  Then  both  lepers  drove  their  respective  cows  towards  a  river.^' 
Here  the  unthankful  man  was  drowned,  nor  was  his  body  afterwards  re- 
covered. The  humble  leper  safely  escaped  from  danger,  and  brought  his 
cow  with  him.^^ 


7^  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  Ixxvii.,  p.  537, /<J/^. 

Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Ixxvi.,  pp.  536,  ^°See  "La  Santit^  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

537.     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  S.    Brigida  Iberaese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp. 

l-j  PP-  557>  558,  ibid.  398  to  401. 

77  This  account  is  contained  in  Abbate  D.  *'  In   Professor  O'Looney's   Life  of  St. 

Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.  Brigid,  where  this  miracle  is  recorded,  the 

Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quinto,  river  in  question  is  called  the  Bearbha,  or 

pp.  395  to  398.  Barrow  ;   and,  from  this  it  would  seem,  St. 

7^  Luke,  xviii.  14.  Brigid  was  hardly  in  Munster  at  the  time  of 

79  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  its  occurrence,  see  pp.  33  to  36. 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  li.,  p.  ^^  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

558.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidae,  cap.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  lii.,  p. 


88 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,       [February  i. 


Many  other. actions  of  St.  Brigid,  and  worthy  of  being  recorded,  took 
place,  while  she  dwelt  in  the  Munster  province.  There  she  also  blessed 
many  churches  and  monasteries.  Afterwards,  she  set  out  on  a  journey  to 
her  own  city,  in  the  province  of  Leinster.  Travelling  through  the  plain  of 
Femhin,  in  her  chariot,  she  met  a  husbandman,  cultivating  his  field,  or  en- 
closing it  with  a  hedge.  The  charioteer  'of  the  holy  virgin  said  to  him  : 
"  Allow  us  to  pass  the  chariot  of  St.  Brigid  through  your  land,  and  after- 
wards you  can  surround  your  field,  with  a  hedge."  The  husbandman  refused 
this  request,  however,  and  told  the  charioteer  he  must  drive  round  the  cir- 
cuit of  the  field.^3  Our  holy  virgin  hereupon  replied  :  "  Let  us  do  as  he  re- 
quires, lest  anything  happen  on  this  man's  account."  Still,  the  charioteer 
disobeyed  her,  and  drove  his  horses  into  the  man's  field.  On  seeing  this, 
however,  the  owner  furiously  struck  the  horses'  heads  with  a  club.  This 
assault  caused  the  animals  to  prove  restive.  Although,  St.  Brigid  was  then 
thrown  out  of  her  chariot,  she  suffered  no  further  injury,  while  her  charioteer 
was  hurt  by  the  fall.  Afterwards,  her  horses  stood  quietly,  the  holy  woman 
saying,  "  Did  I  not  tell  you  to  avoid  this  man,  because  I  foresaw  he  was 
doomed  to  death  and  destruction."  The  rude  agriculturist  was  about  to 
repeat  his  violent  behaviour,  disregarding  the  wickedness  he  meditated 
against  God's  holy  servant.  But  the  Almighty  avenged  the  injury  and  insult 
offered  to  his  saint ;  for  that  insolent  boor  was  prostrated  on  the  earth,  and 
there  he  died.^*  We  are  next  told,  that  the  pious  abbess  came  towards 
Leinster's  bounds,  and  entered  a  province  or  region,  called  Labrathi,^s  or 
Labraide.  This  is  supposed^^  to  be  an  equivalent  for  Hy-Kinsellach.^7 
There,  she  dwelt  in  a  certain  spot.^^  Whilst  here,  a  woman,  accompanied 
by  a  leprous  daughter,  visited  our  holy  virgin,  to  interest  this  latter  in  her 
cure.  The  charitable  servant  of  God  fasted,  and  blessed  some  water, ^9  with 
which  she  ordered  the  leprous  girl  to  be  washed.  No  sooner  had  the 
patient  been  sprinkled  with  this  water,  than  she  was  cleansed  from  her 
leprosy.  Both  the  mother  and  her  daughter  then  gave  thanks  to  God  and 
to  St.  Brigid.9° 


558.  Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
Ixxix.,  p.  537,  ibid.  This  miracle,  accord- 
ing to  Colgan,  is  alluded  to,  in  the  Vita 
Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  §  xvii,,  p.  585,  where  a 
portion  is  truncated,  through  the  fault  of 
him  who  copied  the  original  MS.  See  ibid.^ 
n.  II,  p.  598.  Yet,  it  may  be  doubted,  if 
the  latter  fragmentary  account  had  not  refer- 
ence, rather  to  a  miracle,  which  is  related 
in  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  ci.,  p.  540, 
and  in  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 
Ixx.,  p.  560,  ibid. 

*3  See  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  San- 
titi  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 
nese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  401  to  404. 

*^See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  liii., 
p.  558.  Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidac,  cap. 
Ixxx.,  p.  537,  ibid.  In  the  latter  life,  it  is 
said,  .St.  Brigid  went  from  Cliach  plain  to 
Leinster,  to  assist  the  poor  of  her  race,  in 
this  latter  province.  It  is  stated,  also,  that 
she  was  hurt,  as  well  as  her  charioteer,  when 
she  fell  from  the  chariot.  The  work,  at 
which  the  man  was  engaged,  is  said  to  have 
been  enclosing  his  field  with  a  hedge, 
^s  A  certain  Labratius  or  Lauradius,  son 


to  Bressal  Belach,  King  of  Leinster,  was  the 
founder  of  the  Hy  Kinselach  family.  From 
a  son  Enda,  surnamed  Kinselach,  and  his 
family,  this  territory  had  been  called  Hy- 
Kenselach.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  n.  50,  p.  544.  Also, 
Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  History  of 
Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  §  iv.,  and  n. 

57,  pp.  390,  391. 

^  By  Colgan. 

^7  If  SO,  it  was  a  well-known  territory  in 
southern  Leinster. 

^  See  the  account  given  in  Abbate  D. 
Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibemese."  Libro  Quinto, 
p.  404,  et  seq. 

^9  There  was  a  well,  bearing  the  name  of 
Tobar-Brigdhe  in  Hy-Kinscllagh.  It  was 
much  resorted  to,  on  account  of  various 
cures  wrought  there,  in  Colgan's  time.  This 
distinguished  Irish  hagiologist  and  antiqua- 
rian is  of  opinion,  that  this  spring,  which 
was  situated  in  the  Leinster  province,  must 
have  been  one  mentioned  in  St.  Brigid's 
Acts,  as  having  had  a  miraculous  origin. 
See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  n.  44,  p.  544. 

9° See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  89 


We  are  told,9'^  that  Brigid,  with  her  religious  daughters,  took  a  journey 
towards  Connaught ;  as,  for  special  reasons,  she  wished  to  leave  her  own 
province  of  Leinster.  On  arriving  in  Connaught,  she  dwelt,  for  a  time,  in 
the  plain  of  Hai.92  'pj^jg  ^^g  a  large  and  an  extensive  plain,  situated  in  the 
county  of  Roscommon  and  province  of  Connaught.  While  there,  she  built 
cells  and  monasteries,  in  the  surrounding  country.  Then,  also,  did  she  take 
possession  of  that  parish,  about  which  she  uttered  the  prophecy  during  her 
infancy,  by  saying  :  "  This  shall  be  mine,  this  shall  be  mine."93  It  is  sup- 
posed, that  some  of  the  cells  and  monasteries,  said  to  have  been  founded 
there,  and  in  its  neighbourhood,  by  St.  Brigid,  were  probably  Kill-bride,94 
in  the  territory  of  Siol-Muireadhaigh  ;  Druim-na-bfeadh,9S  and  Disert,  within 
the  district  Tir-Mhaine ;  and  Druim-dhaim  or  Druim-dubhain,?^  in  the 
territory  of  Tiroilill.97 

In  the  Third  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  an  account  relating  to  this  journey  is 
given,  and  towards  the  end  of  that  treatise.^^  It  is  probable  enough,  as 
numbers  of  pious  females  flocked  from  various  districts  in  Ireland,  to  embrace 
a  religious  rule,  under  our  saint's  direction,  that  she  might  have  judged  it  ex- 
pedient, to  extend  her  institute,  in  various  districts  of  which  several  pious 
postulants  were  natives.  Besides  the  inconvenience  of  having  so  many 
persons  living  in  the  same  establishment,  it  is  likely,  Brigid  had  been  invited 
by  some  bishops,  to  found  houses  for  religious  women,  in  their  respective 
dioceses,  to  forward  thereby  and  diffuse  more  widely  the  interests  of  religion.99 
When  necessity  or  duty  required,  consecrated  virgins  often  appeared,  and 
travelled  on  public  roads.  Although  there  are  several  places  in  Connaught 
mentioned,  as  bearing  Brigid's  name  ;  yet,  we  are  not  bound  to  believe,  that 
nunneries  or  churches  were  established  in  all  such  localities  by  the  holy 
\4rgin,  nor  during  her  lifetime.  ^°°  Many  of  these  had  probably  been  erected 
at  periods  long  subsequent ;  and  their  dedication,  either  to  her  conventual 
discipline,  or  possibly  only  under  her  invocation,  may  be  fairly  assumed,  in 
the  majority  of  cases.  The  series  of  our  saint's  transactions  has  been  con- 
fused, and  frequently  inverted,  by  her  different  biographers.  Dates  or  localities 
for  these  narratives  are  not  generally  specified.     With  respect  to  the  present 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.   ii.,  cap.  liv.,  the  Franciscan  order,  but  he  deserved  well 

p.  558.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  Ixxx.,  of  Ireland  in  general, 

P-  537.  ibid.  98  xhere  the  saint  is  said  to  have  dwelt  in 

9'  In  the  Fourth  Life.  the  plain  of  "Air."     In  a  note  Colgan  adds, 

9'  In  Colgan's  time,   it  was  called,  Ma-  that   in  the   Irish  language,   it  is    called, 

chaire  Connacht ;  and,  in  more  ancient  times,  Maghair,  i.  <».,*'  the  plain  of  slaughter."  In 

Mag-ai.  the  Fourth  Life,  lib.  i.,  cap.   49,   we  find 

93  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Quarta  it  placed  in   the  province  of  Connaught, 

Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  xlix.,  and  n.  where  St.  Brigid  and  St.  Broniusare  known 

20,  pp.  549,  564.  to  have  dwelt,  at  the  time  of  the  occurrences 

9* Kill-brigde,  already  mentioned,  was  a  narrated.    See  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Vita 

chapel,  in  the  parish  of  Kill-luckin.  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xciv.,  and  n.  56,  pp. 

95  Druim-na-bfeadh  was  a  parochial  church,  539,  544,  545. 
belonging  to  the  diocese  of  Tuam,  or  other-  99  Telia,  or  the  country  about  Ardagh,  of 

wise,  of  Elphin.  vhich  St.  Mel  was  bishop,  having  been  par- 

9^  Disert  and  Druimdhain  were  parochial  ticularly  mentioned  as  a  district  travelled  by 

churches,  belonging  to  the  diocese  of  El-  our  saint,  her  frequent  interviews  with  that 

phin.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Appendix  prelate  may  have  given  rise  to  an  opinion, 

Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xvi,,  pp.  that  she  received  the  religious  veil,  at  his 

624,  625.  hands. 

97  In  each  of  these  places,  St.  Brigid  was  ^°°  See  the  observations  of  Dr.  Lanigan  on 

venerated,  as  the  special  patroness,  accord-  this  subject,  and  on  matters  preceding,  in 

ing  to  a  catalogue  of  churches,  in  Elphin  his  "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol. 

diocese,  sent  to  Colgan,  by  the  Most  Rev.  i.,  chap,   viii.,  §  iv.,  and  nn.  53,  60,  pp. 

Boetius   Egan,    Bishop   of  Elphin.      This  389, 390,  391, 
worthy  prelate  was  not  only  an  ornament  to 


90  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 

journey  of  our  saint  to  Connaught,  as  in  the  other  cases,  Brigid  and  her 
companions,  in  travelHng  from  one  place  to  another,  were  often  obliged  to 
lodge  at  private  houses.  ^°' 

While  our  saint  remained  in  this  part  of  the  country,  one  day  sheTwent 
to  receive  the  Holy  Eucharist,  from  a  certain  bishop. ^^^  One  of  the  clergy 
held  the  chalice,  from  which  our  saint  refused  to  drink,  on  beholding  within 
it  the  vision  of  a  monster.  The  bishop  demanded  a  reason  for  her  refusal, 
and  on  being  informed,  he  asked  the  assistant  cleric,  what  crime  he  had 
committed,  urging  him  at  the  same  time  to  confess  his  sin,  and  glorify  God. 
The  cleric^°3  humbly  confessed,  that  he  had  partaken  of  what  had  been 
stolen.  The  prelate  then  requested  him  to  repent.  On  complying  with  this 
injunction,  penitently  weeping,  our  saint  approached  to  partake  of  the  chalice, 
and  Brigid  found  the  monster  had  disappeared.  Thus  the  tears  of  this  cleric 
procured  pardon  for  his  offence;  while,  the  virgin  and  the  bishop  retired  rejoic- 
mg  from  the  church,  after  having  been  refreshed  with  our  Lord's  body  and 
blood. '°+  At  another  time,  a  certain  aged  woman  had  a  dangerous  infirmity, 
and  Brigid,  with  many  holy  women  of  the  place,  visited  her,  to  watch  and 
pray  by  her  bedside.  When  this  sick  person  was  at  the  point  of  death,  some 
of  her  attendants  suggested,  that  her  better  or  superfluous  garments  might 
be  removed,  before  departure,  and  especially  to  save  the  trouble  of  after- 
wards washing  them  at  a  very  cold  time  of  the  year.  But,  St.  Brigid  would 
not  consent  to  this  course,  saying,  the  patient  should  not  live  long,  and  that 
it  was  not  charitable,  to  take  away  those  garments  she  wore,  as  a  protection 
from  that  season's  inclemency. '°5  All  who  were  there  admired  the  saint's 
charity,  and  returned  thanks  to  God.'°*^  We  are  told,  also,  that  when  St. 
Brigid  dwelt  in  this  part  of  the  country,  she  was  often  accustomed  to  seek  a 
pool  of  cold  water,  near  the  monastery.  ^°7  There  she  remained  immersed, 
while  she  prayed  and  wept  during  the  whole  night.  This  rigorous  mortifi- 
cation at  one  time  she  endured,  while  snow  and  frost  prevailed,  and  in  pre- 
sence of  one  from  among  her  sisterhood.  But,  as  this  rough  corporal  treat- 
ment surpassed  the  powers  of  nature  to  endure,  for  any  continued  length  of 
time ;  so,  it  pleased  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  to  prevent  it,  by  a 
miracle.  On  a  night  immediately  following  the  occurrence  related,  Brigid 
went  with  the  same  companion  to  renew  like  austerities,  but  on  arriving  at 
the  pond,  it  was  found  to  have  become  completely  dry,  nothing  appearing 
but  the  exposed  bottom  sands.  Surprised  at  this  occurrence,  the  virgins  re- 
turned home  ;  yet,  at  the  earliest  hour  of  day-break,  on  the  following  morn- 
ing, its  waters  were  found  to  have  returned  to  their  usual  level  in  the  lough. 


"'  The  missionary  state  of  things  at  the  under  both  species.     We  have  also  warrant 

time  warrants  such  a  supposition.  for  the  Catholic  dogmas  of  the  Real  Pre- 

*°*  In  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  account,  he  sence  and  Sacramental  Confession,  prevail- 

is  called  Bishop  Bron.     See   "  La  Santitk  ing  in  the  early  Irish  Church,  from  thefore- 

Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  going  narrative. 

Libro  Quinto,  pp.  408  to  410.  '°5  gee    Abbate    D.    Giacomo    Certani's 

'°3ln   Certanis  account   he  is  called  a  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Bri- 

deacon.  gida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  410  to 

"♦  Such  is  the  narrative  as  given  in  the  412. 

Fourth  Life  of  our  saint.     An  account  in  '°*  In  giving  an  account  of  this  circum- 

the  Third  Life  is  nearly  similar,  only  we  stance,  our  saint  is  said  to  have  wrought  a 

are  told  in  this  latter,  that  one  of  the  bishop's  miracle,  recorded  in  the  Third  Life.     It  is 

boys  held  the  chalice      In  the  former,  it  is  also  mentioned  in  the  Vita  Sexta  S.  BrigidJB, 

said,  "unus  tunc  deministrisChristi  tenebat  §  Ivii.,  p.  594, 

calicem."  It  would  seem  from  this  anec-  '°7  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's 
dote,  according  to  the  primitive  discipline  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Bri- 
ef the  Irish  Church,  in  St.  Brigid's  time,  gida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  412  to 
that  Holy  Communion  had  been  received  417. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,  91 


St.  Brigid  resolved  the  third  night  similarly  to  repeat  her  practice,  when  a 
similar  disappearance  of  the  waters  took  place  on  her  approach.  These  waters 
returned  to  the  bed  of  that  lough  early  on  the  following  morning.  Almighty 
power  was  pleased  to  work  such  a  miracle,  on  account  of  God's  holy  servant. 
Always  pleasing  in  his  sight,  as  the  beloved  disciple,  St.  John,  Brigid  had 
been  delivered  from  impending  torture  and  death.  A  knowledge  of  this 
event,  also,  caused  all  persons  to  extol  those  wondrous  favours  of  Heaven 
manifested  towards  the  holy  abbess,  who  was  entreated  by  her  friends  to  re- 
strain her  mortifications,  because  they  seemed  to  be  providentially  discou- 
raged. Coinciding  in  a  like  opinion,  Brigid  yielded  her  own  desires  to  these 
urgent  requests,  after  such  Divine  warnings. '°^ 

Following  nearly  the  order  of  events,  henceforward,  as  recorded  in  the 
Fourth  Life  of  our  saint — although  it  is  by  no  means  certain,  that  the  series 
of  her  actions  as  given  in  the  Third  Life  might  not,  on  the  whole,  be  more 
strictly  chronological  and  consecutive — it  will  be  necessary,  mainly  to 
accommodate  those  narratives  contained  in  her  other  lives,  to  accounts  com- 
prised in  the  Second  Book.^°9  By  adopting  this  course,  we  are  brought  im- 
mediately to  the  foundation  of  her  great  religious  establishment  at  Kildare  ; 
and,  from  the  most  reliable  chronological  date,  a  considerable  period  must 
have  elapsed  from  the  time  of  this  erection  to  the  year  of  her  death.  This 
appears  the  more  necessary,  to  give  some  degree  of  probability  to  accounts 
regarding  her  various  journeys  in  distant  parts  of  the  island,  while  promoting 
the  great  objects  of  her  mission.  Sufficient  time  should  thus  be  allowed  for 
accomplishing  those  excursions,  and  for  the  performance  of  many  miracles, 
attributed  to  her,  in  connexion  with  various  localities.  It  is  to  be  regretted, 
however,  that  the  places  where  they  occurred  are  rarely  mentioned,  nor  are 
times  usually  specified,  by  any  of  her  biographers. 

While  Brigid  resided  in  the  western  province,  the  fame  of  her  sanctity 
became  diffused  all  over  Ireland.  Numbers  flocked  from  all  parts  to  visit 
her ; — some  for  the  purpose  of  holding  conferences  or  seeking  advice  on  re- 
ligious matters— others  for  the  relief  of  corporal  and  physical  necessities. 
But  the  people  of  Leinster — especially  those  residing  in  the  territory,  where 
she  was  born"°  and  had  received  her  earliest  education — conceived  them- 
selves best  entitled  to  the  honour  and  advantages  to  be  derived,  from  the 
holy  virgin's  local  residence.  Taking  counsel  together,  they  resolved  on 
sending  a  respectful  request,  through  a  deputation  of  her  friends,  that  the 
virgin  might  be  induced  to  revisit  her  own  province,  there  to  found  a  reli- 
gious house,  which  should  become  the  parent  establishment  for  her  different 
institutes,  throughout  the  whole  island.  Having  arrived  in  Connaught,  this 
deputation  proceeded  to  unfold  the  object  of  their  journey,  and  to  enforce 
their  wishes  by  such  reasons  as  they  supposed  should  soonest  determine  her 
acquiescence,  in  the  unanimous  opinion  of  those  people  whom  they  repre- 
sented. Brigid  yielded  without  much  difficulty  to  their  desires.  Having 
arranged  matters,  connected  with  her  existing  nunneries,  in  the  western  pro- 
vince, she  set  out  towards  her  better  known  district"" 

Returning  to  Leinster,  she  was  obliged  to  cross  the  river  Shannon,'"  and 

'°^See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  "' See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical His- 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  1.,  li.,  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  §  x.,  pp. 

Hi.,   pp.   549,   550.     Also,   Vita  Tertia  S.  405,406. 

Brigidse,   cap.   xcir.,   xcv.,  xcvi.    p.   539,  """  Intra  quam  Kelltra est  conventus  rite 

ibid.  virorum 

'°9  Namely  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life.  Prudenium,  sacro  Benedicti  dogmate 

*'°  This  place,  however,   was  not  within  florens." 

the  bounds  of  ancient  Leinster  ;  if  we  credit  So  says  the  Sixth  Life  of  our  saint.     The 

most  accounts.  place  here  mentioned  is  situated  between 


93 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


we  are  told,  that  she  came  to  a  place  called  Ath-Liiain"3  for  this  purpose. 
The  present  town  of  Athlone"^  probably  marks  the  spot.  This  is  situated 
nearly  in  the  centre  of  Ireland,  being  partly  in  the  county  of  Roscommon, 
and  partly  in  that  of  Westmeath.  It  is  thought  to  have  derived  its  name 
from  Ath,  an  Irish  word  signifying  "  ford,"  and  Lua?i,  "  the  moon,""s  to 
which  heathen  deity  it  was  said  to  have  been  dedicated  in  pagan  times."^ 
Near  it  is  Tobar-Brigdhe,  on  the  Connaught  side."7  Here,  St.  Brigid  found 
some  people,  respectively  belonging  to  the  province  of  Connaught  and  to 
the  race  of  Neill,  contending  with  each  other.  The  Shannon,  the  largest  of 
our  Irish  rivers,  formed  a  boundary,  between  the  ancient  provinces  of  Meath 
and  Connaught.  The  former  of  these  provinces  belonged  to  the  Hi  Niell 
family,  because  the  southern  O'Neills,  or  the  posterity  of  Laogaire,  Conall, 
Crimtham,Fiach,and  Manius,four  sons  to  Niell  the  great,  King  of  Ireland,  were 
its  colonists.  The  companions  of  St.  Brigid  asked  some  ferry-men  on  the 
river  bank  to  take  them  across,  but  the  boatmen  demanded  a  fare  for  this 
service."^  This  demand  the  sisters  refused  to  comply  with,  and  they  de- 
clared their  intention  to  walk  across  the  river,"9  believing  that  through  St. 
Brigid's  blessing  the  Almighty  would  preserve  them,  as  he  had  formerly 
opened  a  passage  through  the  Red  Sea  and  the  river  Jordan,  for  his  ser- 


the  ancient  territories  of  Thomond  and  Con- 
naught. It  is  an  island  in  the  Shannon,  now 
called  Inis-Keltra.  The  circumstance  of  the 
Benedictine  institute  mentioned,  as  flourish- 
ing there,  at  a  time  when  the  Sixth  Life  was 
written,  may  furnish  a  clue  to  the  period  of 
its  composition.  The  foregoing  Latin  lines 
are  quoted  by  Archdall,  who  gives  us  no 
account,  however,  regarding  a  Benedictine 
institute  having  been  here  established.  Yet, 
he  seems  to  refer  its  foundation  to  the 
seventh  or  eighth  century.  See  '*  Monas- 
ticon  Hibernicum,"  p.  48. 

"3  In  Irish,  it  is  called  Athluain,  a  town 
lying  between  the  ancient  bounds  of  Con- 
naught and  Meath,  where  the  Shannon  sepa- 
rated both  provinces.  A  bridge  thrown 
across  the  river  afforded  a  passage  long  be- 
fore Colgan's  time,  and  at  present,  more 
than  one  bridge  spans  the  Shannon,  at  this 
place.  In  the  Latin  lives  of  St,  Brigid,  it 
is  here  said,  that  she  came,  "  juxta  vadum 
Lua,"  or  otherwise  "  vadi  luain,"  as  ex- 
pressed in  '*  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,"  lib. 
li.,  cap.  i. 

^'<  It  seems  unaccountable,  when  Marcus 
Keane  in  his  "  Towers  and  Temples  of  An- 
cient Ireland"  alludes  to  St.  Luan  alias  Mo- 
lua — whom  he  identifies  with  a  Pagan  divi- 
nity, the  Moon— that  the  writer  did  not  dis- 
cover such  fanciful  derivation  for  the  town, 
and  did  not  connect  St.  Luan  in  some  way 
with  Ath-luain,  which  is  missing  from  his 
curious  list  of  cognate  localities.  See  pp. 
59,  60. 

"S  A  very  interesting  account  of  this  town, 
and  the  sieges  it  stood,  first  when  Lieutenant- 
General  Douglas  arrived  before  the  place, 
July  17th,  1690,  and  when  a  second  time 
General  de  Ginckell  appeared  before  it,  June 
19th,  1 691,  at  the  head  of  27,000  men,  are 
presented  in  Charles  Ffrench  Blake  Foster's 
"Irish  Chieftains;   or  a  Struggle  for  the 


Crown  ;  with  numerous  Notes  and  a  copious 
Appendix."  Chap,  xxi.,  pp.  166  to  168, 
and  chap.  xxx.  xxxi.,  pp.  208  to  220. 

"^"The  derivation  of  the  name  would 
appear  to  be  confirmed  by  the  discovery  of 
several  lunettes  and  crescents  of  gold  in  an 
adjoining  bog,  which  were  sold  to  a  Dublin 
jeweller  for  £^$^,  by  whom  they  were 
melted  down.  Had  they  been  previously 
examined  by  a  clever  antiquary,  they  would 
most  probably  have  thrown  great  light  on 
early  Irish  history,  as  I  have  been  informed 
that  some  of  them  bore  inscriptions  which 
were  unintelligible  to  the  finders." — Ibid., 
note  86,  p.  495. 

"7Colgan  informs  us  that  on  account  of 
many  miracles  wrought  there,  not  only 
Catholics,  but  those  without  the  fold,  were 
accustomed  to  visit  it,  coming  from  the  most 
distant  parts.  Whereupon,  the  illustrious 
Lord  Randall  MacDonnell,  Count  of  An- 
trim, distinguished  as  much  for  his  Christian 
piety  as  by  his  noble  birth,  had  it  surrounded 
with  handsome  and  firmly-pointed  mason- 
work.  See  '•  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  n.  44, 
p.  544.  It  must  be  incorrectly  stated  by 
Frazer,  that  the  first  Earl  of  Antrim  in  1685 
erected  an  old  building,  which  encloses  the 
sacred  fountain  at  Brideswell,  in  Roscom- 
mon county,  about  six  and  a-half  miles  from 
Athlone.  Colgan,  who  mentions  it,  pub- 
lished his  work  in  1647,  many  years  pre- 
vious. The  inscription  on  a  door-way  over 
the  well  must  reveal  some  earlier  date.  See 
••  Hand  Book  for  Travellers  in  Ireland." 
No.  105,  p.  479. 

"^  In  the  Third  Life  of  our  saint,  it  is 
said,  they  asked  for  a  cloak  or  a  blanket, 
belonging  to  these  virgins,  as  a  recompense 
for  the  service  required. 

"'  During  very  dry  seasons,  the  Shannon 
was  formerly  fordable  at  Athlone, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  93 


vants."°  Then  they  besought  their  holy  abbess  to  make  a  sign  of  the  cross 
over  the  Shannon  waters,  that  they  might  decrease,  so  as  to  become  fordable. 
This  request  she  heard  most  favourably :  with  her  sisters  she  entered  the 
river,  and  in  presence  of  people  belonging  to  both  contending  factions.  To 
the  wonder  and  admiration  of  beholders,  although  without  the  aid  of  boats, 
the  strongest  men  and  soldiers  there  assembled  could  not  pass,  it  was  found, 
the  waters  did  not  reach  the  knees  of  this  holy  company  of  virgins,  then 
crossing.  Before  the  saint  and  her  companions  entered  the  river,  some 
clerics,  who  had  hired  a  small  vessel,  asked  one  of  Brigid's  nuns  to  accom- 
pany them.  She  permitted  a  young  and  timid  sister  to  cross  the  river  before 
her  in  that  vessel."^  This  virgin  had  previously  asked  the  blessing  of  her 
superioress,  from  whom  she  feared  to  be  separated  in  crossing  over ;  and 
Brigid  said  :  *'  Go  in  peace,  the  Lord  will  preserve  you."  But,  in  sight  of 
all,  the  bark  sunk  in  the  mid-stream,  when,  fearful  of  danger,  the  men  invoked 
aid  from  the  holy  abbess.  Brigid  blessed  and  prayed  for  her  nun ;  the 
waves  carried  this  sister  safely  to  her  destination,  without  even  wetting  her 
garments.  All,  who  were  near  the  spot,  gave  glory  to  God,  and  lauded  the 
wonders  it  pleased  Heaven  to  accomplish  through  the  merits  of  our  illus- 
trious saint. "^  Yet  greater  moral  miracles  than  these  was  she  destined  to 
effect  j  and,  filled  with  a  happy  inspiration,  she  directed  her  course  to  that 
place,  which  aftenvards  became  inseparably  connected  with  her  heroic 
actions  while  living,  and  with  their  memory,  when  she  was  called  away  to 
her  eternal  reward. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

KINGS  OF  IRELAND  IN  THE  FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  CENTURIES— CONDITION  OF  LEINSTER 
AFTER  THE  MIDDLE  OF  THE  FIFTH  CENTURY — KILDARE— PERIOD  WHEN  SELECTED 
BY  ST.  BRIGID  FOR  HER  CHIEF  MONASTERY— GRADUAL  GROWTH  AND  IMPORTANCE 
OF  THE  PLACE— INSTANCES  OF  HER  PROTECTION. 

The  Annals  of  Ireland  relate  certain  revolutionary  changes,  whereby  the 
supreme  sovereignty  passed  from  one  family  line  to  another,  during  the  fourth 
and  fifth  centuries.  Ambitious  and  enterprising  warriors  aspired  to  rule  the 
island,  as  fortune  or  the  force  of  circumstances  favoured  their  designs. 
After  the  middle  of  the  fourth  century,^  the  monarch  Eochaidh,  surnamed 
Muigh  Mheadhoin,''  slew  his  predecessor,  Caelbadh,  a.d.  3  5  7,3  and  afterwards 
he  reigned  for  eight  years,^  when  he  died  at  Tara,5  a.d.  365.^    Twice  had  he 

"°  Exodus,  xvi.  22.  3  This  is  set  down  to  A.d.  353  in  O'Ma- 

»"  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  hony's  Keating's    "History    of    Ireland," 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  v.,  pp.  65,  66.  booki.,  chap,  vii,,  p.  367.  He  only  reigned 

"^  See  Colgan's   "  JTrias  Thaumaturga."  one  year.     See  Gratianus  Lucius  (Dr.  John 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  i.,  ii.,  Lynch),    "Cambrensis   Eversus,"  vol.    i,, 

and  n.  i,  pp.  550,  564.    Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri-  chap,  viii.,  pp.  492,  493.     Rev.  Dr.  Kelly's 

gidse,  cap.  xcvii.,  and  n.  56,  pp.  539,  545,  edition. 

ibid.     Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidae,   §  Iviii.,  p.  ■♦  See  an  account  of  this  king  and   his 

594,  and  n.  16,  p,  598,  ibid.  epoch  in  O'Flaherty's  *'  Ogygia,"  pars,  iii., 

Chap,  vi, — '  In  the  following  historical  cap.  Ixxix,  Ixxx.,  pp.  373  to  380. 

resume,  we  chiefly  follow  the  chronology  of  s  During  his  reign,  it  is  said,  St.  Patrick 

the  Four  Masters  in  the  text.  was   carried  as   a   captive  into    Hibemia. 

=^  He  received  this  name,  rendered  "  Cam-  See  William  M.  Hennessy's  "Chronicum 

porum   Amplificator,"    according    to    Dr.  Scotorum,"  pp.  14,  15. 

Charles  O' Conor,  probably  because  he  was  ^  Or  A.M.   5564,    according  to  the  state- 

an  extender  or  improver  of  lands.      See  ment  in  Dr.   John   Lynch's  "  Cambrensis 

"  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  Eversus,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  492,493. 

ii.    Tigemachi  Annales,  pp.  72,  73.  See  Rev.  Dr.  Kelly's  edition. 


94 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [Februa  r  i. 


been  married. 7  Crimhthann,^  son  of  Fidhach,  a  warlike  and  an  accomplished 
prince,  succeeded  Eochaidh  Muighmeadhoin.  It  is  recorded,  that  he  made 
successful  predatory  inroads  on  the  shores  of  France,  Britain  and  Scotland, 
from  which  countries  he  obtained  tribute  and  submission,  returning  to  Ire- 
land with  hostages  and  captives.9  After  a  reign  of  thirteen  years, '°  he  is 
said  to  have  died  of  poison,  administered  by  his  own  sister,  Mongfinn." 
Thus  she  hoped  to  obtain  the  succession  for  her  favourite  son  Brian,"  as 
Crimthaan  died  without  issue  ;  but,  in  this  expectation  she  was  disappointed, 
and  her  own  death  is  said  to  have  happened,  about  the  same  time,  a.d.  378. 
Her  step-son,  the  celebrated  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages,'3  next  came  on  the 
throne.  This  king  commenced  his  reign,  a.d.  379,''*  and  distinguished  his 
career  by  a  series  of  brilliant  and  successful  expeditions  against  the  Alba- 
nians, Britons,  Picts  and  Gauls,  from  whom  he  carried  away  valuable  spoils 
and  several  captives.  Among  the  latter,  as  generally  supposed,  was  our 
illustrious  national  saint,  at  a  subsequent  period  destined  by  Divine  Provi- 
dence to  become  the  great  apostle  of  Ireland.  It  is  said,  that  when  Niall 
arrived  in  Albyn  or  Albania,  now  Scotland,  to  assist  the  Dailriads  of  Irish 
extraction  against  the  incursions  of  the  Picts,  he  changed  the  name  of  that 
country  to  Scotia  at  their  request.  Scotland  was  thenceforward  known  as  Scotia 
Minor,  to  distinguish  it  from  Ireland,  which  was  denominated  Scotia  Major. 
The  reason  why  this  heroic  monarch  received  the  name  of  Niall  of  the  Nine 
Hostages  is  said  to  have  been  owing  to  the  circumstance  of  his  having  had 
four  noble  hostages  from  Scotland,  and  five  other  distinguished  pledges  from 
the  different  provinces  of  Ireland,  confined  at  Tara.  Yet,  accounts  are 
somewhat  discordant  as  to  the  nine  regions  from  which  these  hostages  were 
taken.      The   people   of  Leinster   are   represented  as   having  surrendered 


7  This  monarch  had  four  sons  by  his  first 
wife  Mongfinn,whowasdaughterto  Fidhach, 
of  the  royal  family  of  Munster.  Her  sons 
were  :  I.  Bryan,  ancestor  of  the  O'Conors 
of  Connaught  and  their  kindred  ;  2.  Fiachra, 
ancestor  of  the  O'Dowdas,  O'Heynes  and 
O'Shaughnessys ;  3.  Fearghus  ;  and  4. 
OilioU,  whose  people  were  formerly  located 
in  Tir-Oiliolla,  now  the  barony  of  Tirerrill, 
in  the  county  of  Sligo.  By  his  second 
wife,  Carinna,  a  Saxon  or  Pictish  lady,  the 
most  illustrious  of  his  sons,  Niall  of  the 
Nine  Hostages,  descended. 

^  Crimthann  ascended  the  throne  A.D. 
360,  according  to  O'Mahony's  Keating's 
"History  of  Ireland,"  book  i.,  chap,  vii., 
p.  369,  According  to  Tigernach,  his 
reign  commenced  about  A.  D.  366. 

9  To  his  predatory  excursions,  Eumenius, 
Claudian,  Ammianus  Marcellinus,  Gildas, 
and  Venerable  Bede,  allude.  Tnose  raids 
checked  the  Roman  conquests  in  Britain, 
but  they  so  harrassed  the  Britons,  that  these 
in  turn  were  induced  to  call  the  Saxons  to 
protect  them.  This  led  to  the  settlement 
of  that  warlike  race  in  England.  See  John 
D' Alton's  "  History  of  Irv-dand  and  Annals 
of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  55,  56. 

"  In  the  "  Chronicum  Scotorum,"  how- 
ever, it  is  said  he  only  reigned  five  years, 
and  died  A.D.  376.  See  pp.  16,  17.  Edited 
by  W.  M.  Hennessy. 

"  She  appears  to  have  been  living  at  the 
same  time  with  Eochaidh  Muigh  Mheadh- 


oin's  second  wife ;  so  that,  she  had  either 
been  divorced  by  the  monarch,  or,  as  seems 
likely  enough,  a  plurality  of  wives  was  in 
vogue  among  some  of  the  Pagan  Irish. 

^*See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  book  i.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  371,  372. 

'3  Niall  had  fourteen  sons,  eight  of  whom 
left  issue  :  viz.,  I.  Laeghaire,  from  whom 
the  O'Coindhealbhains  or  Kendellans  of 
Ui-Laeghaire  are  descended ;  2.  Conall 
Crimhthainne,  from  whom  the  O'Melagh- 
lins  are  derived  ;  3.  Fiacha,  the  ancestor  of 
the  MacGeoghegans  and  O'Molloys ;  4. 
Maine,  the  progenitor  of  the  O'Caharneys, 
O'Breens  and  MacGawleys,  with  their  co- 
relatives  in  Teffia.  All  these  sons  setded 
in  Meath.  The  other  four  acquired  exten- 
sive possessions  in  Ulster,  where  they  re- 
sided :  viz.,  I.  Eoghan,  ancestor  of  the 
O'Neills  and  various  kindred  families;  2. 
Conall  Gulban,  ancestor  of  the  O'Donnells  ; 
3.  Cairbre,  whose  posterity  dwelt  in  the 
barony  of  Carbury,  in  the  present  county  of 
Sligo,  and  in  the  barony  of  Granard  in  the 
county  of  Longford  ;  4.  Enda  Finn,  whose 
descendants  settled  in  Tir-Enda  of  Tyr- 
connell,  and  in  Kinel-Enda,  near  the  hill  of 
Uisneach,  County  Westmeath. 

'*  See  Dr.  Charles  O'Conor's  "  Rerura 
Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  80. 
In  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of  Ire- 
land," the  date  for  his  accession  is  A.D. 
577.     See  book  i.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  372. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,  95 


Eochaidh,  son  of  Enna  Ceinnseallach,  king  of  the  province,  for  a  pledge  of 
their  allegiance.  This  prince,  however,  contrived  to  escape  from  his  guards, 
and  followed  the  King  of  Ireland  on  a  warlike  expedition.  At  the  sea, 
called  Muir-n-Icht,  between  France  and  England,  and  supposed  to  have  been 
situated  near  the  site  of  the  present  Boulogne,  the  Prince  of  Leinster  assas- 
sinated the  warlike  Niall,  a.d.  405,  after  the  latter  monarch  had  reigned 
gloriously,  during  the  term  of  twenty-seven  years.  Other  accounts  have  it, 
that  he  was  killed  near  the  banks  of  the  Loire.  The  posterity  of  this  re- 
nowned warrior  were  known  as  the  northern  and  southern  Hy-Niall,  or 
descendants  of  Niall.  From  this  distinguished  race,  nearly  all  the  kings  of 
Ireland  derive  their  origin  down  to  the  twelfth  century. 's  Dathi,  grandson 
of  the  former  monarch  of  Ireland,  Eochaidh  Muighmheadhoin,  succeeded. 
This  prince  was  remarkable  for  activity  of  body  and  a  spirit  of  military  ad- 
venture. He  pushed  his  conquests  with  great  success  in  the  territories  of 
France,  where  he  was  at  length  killed  by  a  stroke  of  lightning  at  the  Alps. 
His  body  was  carried  home  to  Ireland,  and  interred  with  military  honours  at 
Rathcroghan,  where  his  grave  was  marked  by  a  red  pillar-stone,  according  to 
the  accounts  contained  in  some  old  and  trustworthy  records. ^^  Dathi  closed 
his  reign  of  twenty-three  years,  a.d.  428.  He  was  immediately  succeeded 
by  the  last  king  who  ruled  over  Pagan  Ireland,  Leaghaire,^7  son  to  Niall,  the 
hero  of  the  Nine  Hostages.  During  his  reign,  the  illustrious  St.  Patrick 
preached  the  Gospel  in  Ireland,^^  and  it  is  probable,  also,  St.  Brigid  first  saw 
the  light.  This  monarch's  chief  engagements  were  fought  with  the  people 
of  Leinster. '9  When  a  reign  of  thirty  years  had  been  completed,  Leaghaire, 
who  does  not  appear  to  have  embraced  the  Christian  religion,  died,  a.d. 
458.^°  He  was  succeeded  by  OilioU  Molt,^^  son  of  Dathi.  After  a  dis- 
turbed reign  of  twenty  years,  during  which  he  contended  with  the  Leinster- 
men,  Oilioil  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Ocha,  in  Meath,  a.d.  478,  by  Lughaidh, 
son  of  Leaghaire,  who  succeeded.^^  It  does  not  seem  to  be  well  established 
that   even  this   monarch  had  been  a   believer  in   the   sublime   truths   of 


^5  A  very  complete  account  of  this  mon-  the  Clarendon  MSS.,  No.  4795,  BibI,  Harl., 
arch,  and  of  the  incidents  during  his  reign,  it  is  stated,  that  the  illustrious  future  mis- 
will  be  found  in  O'Mahony's  Keating's  sionary  arrived  in  Ireland  in  the  twelfth 
*' History  of  Ireland,"  book  i.,  chap,  vii.,  year  of  this  king's  reign.  See  7^/a'.,  tomus 
pp.  372  to  394.  iv.,  p.  I. 

^^See  an  illustration  of  the  "Pillar  of  '9 Dr.  Charles  O'Conor,  who  supplies  the 

Dathi,  Rathcroghan,"  with  a  description  of  hiatus  in  the    "Annals   of    Tighernach,'* 

Relig*na-ree,  as  also  a  ground  plan  of  the  assigns  to  A.  D.  452  a  great  battle  fought  by 

tumuli  there,  in  *' Proceedings  of  the  Royal  King  Laogaire  against    the    Leinstermen. 

Irish  Academy,"  vol.  i.,  series  ii.  ;  a  paper,  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  109. 

by  Samuel  Ferguson,  LL.D,,  "  On  Ancient  ^°  Yet  the  "  Annales  Buellani,"  or  "  An* 

Cemeteries  at  Rathcroghan  and  elsewhere  nals  of  Boyle,"  state  that,  at  A.D.   460,  a 

in  Ireland,"  read  February  26,   1872,  pp.  fierce  war  was  waged  by  Laegare  Mac  Neill, 

114  to  118.  and  again  at  a.d.  465,  that   the   Leinster- 

^^  In  John  D' Alton's  **  History  of  Ireland  men  fought  against  him  at  Atha-dara  or  the 

and  the  Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.   ii.,   King  "ford  of  the  oaks,"  in  which  the  monarch 

Leogaire  is  stated  to  have  begun  his  reign  was  made  a  prisoner,   but  afterwards  ran- 

A.D.  426  and  to  have  ended  it   A.D.  470,  somed,  he  swearing  by  the  sun  and  wind, 

thus  giving  him  a  rule  of  44  years.     See  pp.  that  he  should  send  them  a  number  of  oxen. 

64,  69,  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemicarum 

'^The    "Annales    Inisfalenses,"    edited  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  2. 

from  the  Bodleian  MS.  Rawlinson,  No.  503,  "  His  accession  to  the  throne  is  placed  at 

state,  that  St.  Patrick  commenced  his  mis-  A.D.  457   in  O'Mahony's   Keating's  "  His- 

sion  A.D.  ccccxxxii.,  in  the  fourth  year  of  tory  of  Ireland,"  book   i.,    chap,    vii.,  p. 

"King  Leagare  meicc  Neiir s  xt\gr\.     See   Dr.  41  o. 

Charles  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibernicarum  "The  date  given  for  this  event  is  A.D. 

Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p,  i.     In  an  addition  477  by  Keating.     See  ibid.,  p.  420.     The 

to  the  "  Annales  Ultonienses,  '  found  among  Four  Masters  have  A.D.  479. 


96 


LTVES  01'  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  t. 


Christianity.=3  Some  battles  are  on  record  during  the  rule  of  this  king,  who 
was  killed  by  a  flash  of  lightning,  a.d.  503,  after  holding  the  sovereignty  of 
Ireland  for  twenty-five  years. '* 

During  the  course  of  these  foregoing  public  events,  Enna  or  Endeus 
Kinnselach,  descended  from  Catheir  Moxj^^  had  founded  the  tribe  and 
district  of  Ui-Kinnselach,  in  South  Leinster,  to  which  he  gave  name.'''^  After 
the  father's  death,  his  son  Crimthann  took  possession  of  this  inheritance, 
and  afterwards,  it  is  thought,  he  was  king  over  the  whole  of  Leinster.  This 
warrior  dynast^7  joined  in  a  confederacy  with  Lugaid^^  son  to  the  monarch 
Leaghaire,  Fiachra,  Muircheartach  Mac  Earca,  and  Fearghus  Cerbhell.  The 
Leinstermen  were  led  by  Crimthann,  and  the  Dal-Araidhe^'^  by  their  Dynast 
Fiachra.  Different  versions  of  their  proceedings  are  given  ;  however,  it  is 
generally  allowed,  that  the  supreme  monarch,  OilioU  Molt,  either  gave  or 
was  obliged  to  accept  battle  at  Ocha,  which  is  said  to  have  been  near  The- 
moria  or  Tara.  This  celebrated  engagement  took  place,  according  to  some 
accounts,  a.d.  478,3°  while  others  defer  it  to  a.d.  4823^  or  483.32    Crimthann 


«3  "The  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters"  tell 
us  that  St.  Patrick  died,  A.D.  493,  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  Lughaidh's  reign,  and  that 
he  was  buried  at  Down.  See  Dr.  O'Dono- 
van's  edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.  154  to  159,  with 
accompanying  notes. 

'^  See  the  Author's  "  Catechism  of  Irish 
History,"  Lesson  v.,  pp.  33  to  37,  and 
Lesson  vi.,  pp.  39  to  42. 

=5  Gilla-mo-dudius,  a  historical  writer  of 
deserved  authority,  says,  that  none  of  the 
Leinster  kings,  after  Cathair  More,  were 
enumerated  among  the  monarchs  over  Ire- 
land. Gilla-mo-dudius  wrote  an  esteemed 
tract,'*On  the  Christian  Monarchs  of  Ireland, " 
extending  from  A.D.  431  to  A.D.  1 143,  where 
his  history  ends.  In  the  "  Journal  of  the 
Royal  Historical  and  Archaeological  Asso- 
ciation of  Ireland,"  there  is  an  interesting 
tract,  translated  and  edited  by  J.  O'Beime 
Crowe,  A.B.,  and  No.  ii.  among  his  series, 
'*  Ancient  Lake  Legends  of  Ireland."  It  is 
intituled:  "The  Vision  of  l  athair  Mor, 
King  of  Leinster,  and  afterwai  ds  Monarch 
of  Ireland,  foreboding  the  origin  of  Loch 
Garman  (Wexford  Haven)."  See  vol.  ii. 
Fourth  Series,  No.  9,  pp.  26  to  49.  This  is 
edited  from  three  different  copies,  taken  re- 
spectively from  the  Books  of  Leinster, 
Lecan  and  Ballymote. 

'^  See  the  Genealogies,  which  form  Part 
iii.  of  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  chap,  x.,  pp.  693  to  697. 

=7  There  was  a  ' '  Catalogue  of  the  Kings 
of  Ireland,"  by  an  anonymous  author,  to  be 
found  in  O'Malchonrian's  book.  This  was 
in  Colgan's  possession,  and  it  thus  gives  the 
names  of  Oilill's  three  principal  opponents, 
without  making  mention  of  Crimthann  or 
Lugad.  It  states,  that  after  Olild  Molt, 
King  of  Ireland,  and  the  son  of  Dathy,  son 
to  Fiach,  son  of  Eochaid  Macmeadon,  had 
reigned  twenty  years,  he  was  killed  by 
Murchertach,  Fergus  Kerrbheoil,  and  by 
Fiach  Lonn,  the  son  of  Caelbad,  King  of 


Dalaradia.  In  the  Acts  of  St.  Kieran,  how- 
ever, this  victory  is  attributed  to  Crimthann. 
See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiberniae," 
V.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap.  xix.,  p. 
460. 

=^  Gilla-mo-dudius  ascribes  this  victory 
and  carnage  to  Lugad,  son  to  Laogaire,  the 
immediate  successor  of  OiliU  in  the  sove- 
reignty of  Ireland. 

^9  "St.  Beg  mac  De"  or  *'  Beccus,  son  of 
Dea,"  a  celebrated  Irish  prophet,  died  in  the 
year  557.  In  a  certain  fragment  of  a  work 
he  wrote,  "  On  the  Kings  of  Ireland,"  and 
which  is  cited  in  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  at  A.D.  478,  regarding  this  battle, 
the  English  translation  runs  : — 

**  The  great  battle  of  Ocha  was  fought 
In  which  many  battalions  were  cut  off, 
Against  OilioU  Molt,  son  of  Nathi, 
Who  was  defeated  by  the  Dal-Araide." 

See  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.   150, 

151,  andn.  (f),  ibid. 

3°  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp..  148  to  1 5 1,  with 
accompanying  notes.  The  ''  Annates  Inis- 
falenses"  place  it  at  this  year.  See  Dr. 
Charles  O  Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibernicanun 
Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  pp.  3,  4. 

3'  In  the  "  Annales  Ultonienses,"  at  A.D. 
482,  the  battle  of  Ocha  is  placed,  and  in 
the  following  year  483  we  have  an  account 
of  the  "  jugulatio"or  murder  of  Crimthainn, 
son  of  Enna  Censelach,  son  to  Bresal  Belac, 
King  of  Leinster.  But,  as  if  doubtful  regard- 
ing the  date  for  both  events,  it  is  again 
stated, after  noting  the  first  war  atGranearad, 
at  A.D.  485,  that  it  was  probably  there 
Crimthann  received  his  death-wound.  See 
ibid.f  tomus  iv.,  p.  7. 

3'  Ussher  places  it  at  this  year.  See 
"  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Antiquitates," 
cap.  xvii.,  p.  490,  and  at  "Index  Chronolo- 
gicus,"A.D.  CCCCLXXXm, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OP  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


97 


is  related  to  have  killed  Oilioll  Molt  in  this  battle. 33  Moreover,  in  the 
Acts  of  St.  Kieran,34  it  would  appear  to  be  stated,  that  this  Crimthann  ob- 
tained supreme  sovereignty  over  the  country  after  the  fight  of  Ocha.35 
Doubtless,  his  power  was  great,  and  his  influence  was  respected  by  the 
supreme  monarch  who  succeeded ;  but,  Crimthann  himself  does  not  seem  to 
have  aspired  to  the  sovereignty  of  Ireland.  He  survived  this  battle  of 
Ocha,  as  we  might  infer,  only  one  year ;  for,  it  is  said,  he  received  a  mortal 
wound  in  the  battle  ofGranaird,  fought  in  the  year  478,3^  yet,  most  strangely, 
the  very  same  authority  defers  his  death  to  480.37  Perhaps,  he  was  instru- 
mental in  aiding  St.  Brigid  to  found  her  nunnery  and  church  at  Kildare, 
while  he  was  chief  ruler  over  the  Leinster  province. 3^  His  daughter  Ethnea, 
surnamed  Huathach,39  is  said  to  have  been  married  to  the  religious  -^ngus, 
Prince  of  Munster,  who  had  been  baptized  by  St.  Patrick. 

When  the  illustrious  lady  reached  the  Leinster  province,  its  chiefs  and 
people  welcomed  her  with  the  liveliest  demonstrations  of  respect  and  re- 
joicing. She  sought  a  spot,  but  slightly  elevated  over  the  surrounding  ex- 
tensive "  plain  of  the  Liffy.''4o  There  the  ground  was  gently  undulating  and 
fertile ;  and,  it  is  said  to  have  been  anciently  styled,  Druim  Criadh,  or  "  the 
ridge  of  clay.^^i  At  this  time,  a  large  oak  tree — a  favourite  with  our  saint, 
and  blessed  by  her — grew  upon  the  spot.  Its  branches  spread  around,  and 
it  must  have  been  a  remarkable  natural  feature  of  the  landscapc^^    This 


33  This  is  stated,  in  the  old  historical  tract, 
called  "  Borumha-Laighean. "  It  must  be 
observed,  also,  that  as  Crimthann  was  pre- 
sent at  Ocha  battle,  the  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters"  fall  into  an  error,  when  they 
state  under  A. D.  465,  that  Crimthann,  son 
of  Enda-Censelach,  King  of  Leinster,  was 
killed  by  the  son  of  his  own  daughter,  i.e.^ 
Eochaidh  Guineach,  [one]  of  the  Ui- 
Bairrche."  Again,  "The  Annals  of  Clon- 
macnoise"  record,  that  Crimthann  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Ard-corran.  Yet  the  "  An- 
nates Inisfalenses"  place  his  death  at  A.D. 
CCCCLXXX.,  and  afterwards  note  the  "  Bel- 
lum  Ardacoraind"  at  ccccxcvii.  See  Dr. 
Charles  O' Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibernicarum 
Scriptores,"  tomusii.,  pp.  4,  5.  Again,  the 
**  Annals  of  Ulster"  place  the  battle  of  Arda 
Corann  or  Mount  Corann,  and  the  death  of 
Lugdach,  son  of  Laegaire,  at  A.D.  506  or 
507.     See  z^i'iV/,,  tomus  iv.,  p,  11. 

3*  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber- 
nise,"  V.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap.  xix., 
p.  460. 

35  Dubtach  O'Luguir,  a  disciple  of  St. 
Patrick,  who  is  said  to  have  been  present, 
and  an  eye-witness  of  this  battle,  in  a  little 
work,  which  he  wrote  on  the  Acts  of  this 
same  Crimthann.  and  which  Colgan  had  in 
his  possession,  bears  similar  testimony. 

3^  According  to  the"  Annals  of  Inisfallen," 
which,  strangely  enough,  make  two  kings 
of  Leinster  fall  m  this  battle.  One  is  named 
Finchad,  and  the  other  Crimthann  Censelach, 
who  killed  Echad,  and  received  himself  a 
mortal  wound.  Perhaps,  the  meaning  is, 
that  both  were  kings  or  dynasts  in  Leinster  ; 
or  that  their  supreme  power  alternated  at 
different  times.  Some  writers  state,  accord- 
ing to  the  same  authority,  that  Meicc  Eircc 

Vol.  II. 


was  victor  in  this  battle,  while  others  have 
Coirpre  as  victor.  See  Dr.  O'Conors  *'  Re- 
rum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii., 
p.  4. 

37  See  ibid.  Perhaps  he  lingered  on  for 
two  years  after  being  wounded. 

3^  This  Crimthann,  who  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Ocha,  in  A.D.  478,  or  accord- 
ing to  other  accounts  in  the  years  482  or 
483,  might  have  been  buried  at  or  in  Kil- 
dare Monastery,  which  is  supposed  to  have 
been  founded  about,  if  notbelore,  such  era. 
And  this  passage  also  strengthens  the  proof 
that  Crimthaim  was  not  killed  in  A.D.  465. 
See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  nn. 
8^9,  10,  p.  565.  Likewise,  O'Donovan's 
'*  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
146,  147,  n.  (r),  ibid.  And  pp.  148  to  151, 
nn.  {d,  e,  f),  ibid. 

3^  See  Colgan's  "'Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber- 
nise,"  V.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap.  xix., 
p.  460. 

4°  In  Irish  called,  V(\a.%  lipVii.  The  river 
flows  through  a  level  country  in  Kildare. 

41  See  "  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,"  vol.  ix,.  First  Series.  W.  M. 
Hennessy's  paper  "On  the  Curragh  of  Kil- 
dare, "p.  349. 

*'■'  In  one  of  his  many  fictions,  Dempster 
asserts,  that  Kildare  derived  its  name  from 
a  St.  Daria,  the  mother  of  St.  Ursula,  who 
brought  certain  relics  to  Ireland.  See 
"  Historia  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Scotorum," 
lib.  iv.  Colgan  remarks,  that  before  Demp- 
ster's time,  no  writer  ever  asserted  these 
relics  were  brought  to  Ireland,  or  that  Kil- 
dare derived  its  name  from  them.  See 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  Vita  S.  Bri- 
gidse,  n.  23,  p.  543. 


H 


9^ 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


site — now  very  much  denuded  of  oak43 — was  chosen  by  St.  Brigid  for  her 
projected  conventual  establishment.  The  local  proprietor  of  this  soil  and 
people  living  in  the  neighbourhood  soon  helped  to  provide  a  habitation  for 
their  future  patroness  and  for  her  religious  sisters.  It  has  been  asserted,  the 
first  church  built  there  was  constructed  with  wattles  ;'»4  and,  owing  to  the 
circumstance  of  its  having  nesded  under  or  near  the  large  spreading  tree,  it 
got  the  name  Kildare,45  or  "  the  cell  of  the  oak."'*^  When  the  author  of  St. 
Brigid's  Fourth  Life  lived,  the  roots,  or  part  of  the  trunk,  belonging  to  this 
venerable  tree,  remained--^?  The  adjoining  plain  of  the  Curragh  is  tradi- 
tionally held  to  have  been  St.  Brigid's  pasture  ground,-*^  to  which  she  never 
prevented  the  neighbouring  people  from  sending  their  cattle.49  This  is 
thought  to  have  been  the  origin  of  what  still  constitutes  the  popular  right  of 
commonage.  Various  legendary  stories  connect  St.  Brigid  and  her  nans 
with  its  former  proprietorship  ;  while,  these  are  stated  to  have  been  engaged 
in  the  pastoral  occupation  of  tending  herds  and  flocks  on  its  plains.  Portions 
of  the  surface  had  probably  been  subjected  to  tillage,  and  this  tract  of  land 
afforded  means  for  enabling  the  community  to  procure  a  subsistence.  5°  The 
Round  Tower  at  Kildare  and  the  adjoining  ruins  probably  represent  the 
exact  site  of  St.  Brigid's  early  conventual  establishment  and  of  the  church 
connected  with  it  The  round  tower  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  its  class,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  highly  ornamented  in 
Ireland.51  The  castellated  top  of  the  tower  is  modern.  It  is  said  there  are 
sundry  vestiges  of  ancient  work  about  the  site  of  Kildare,  but  that  these  are 
so  incorporated  with  the  buildings  of  Christian  times,  it  is  now  difficult  to 
distinguish  them.s^    At  what  particular  period  St.  Brigid's  establishment  was 


*3ln  Miss  Harriet  Martineau's  "Letters 
from  Ireland,"  the  intelligent  authoress,  la- 
menting the  want  of  wood  cultivation  in  the 
island,  alludes  to  the  fine  oaks,  elms,  ash 
and  beech,  on  the  properties  of  LordDownes 
and  of  the  Duke  of  Leinster,  in  the  great 
plain  of  Kildare.  See  Letter  vii.  How 
Ireland  is  to  get  back  its  woods,  p.  5 1.  Lon- 
don :  1852,     8vo. 

44  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  pp.  33,  34,  it  is  said,  that  while 
one  hundred  horse-load  of  wattles  passed 
through  Kildare,  when  Bishop  Mel  and 
Brigid  were  there,  she  sent  four  of  her 
virgins  to  ask  those  wattles  as  a  gift  from 
Ailill,  son  of  Dunlaing.  These  he  gave 
her,  and  it  was  of  them  the  great  house  of 
Sancta  Brigida  in  Kildare  was  made. 

45  The  derivation  of  Kildare  county  is 
from  Chille-dara  or  "  the  wood  of  oaks, " 
according  to  Thomas  James  Rawson's  "  Sta- 
tistical Survey  of  the  County  of  Kildare,"  In- 
troduction, p.  i.  He  contends,  it  was  an- 
ciently called  Caelan  or  Galen,  i.e.,  "the 
woody  country,"  being  formerly  almost  one 
continuous  wood,  "  the  decay  of  which 
produced  the  great  extent  of  bogs,  which 
cover  so  much  of  the  country  at  this  day, 
and  by  the  quantity  of  timber,  with  which 
they  abound,  bear  incontestable  marks  of 
their  origin."     See  ibid.,  p.  ii. 

**  "  The  very  oak  under  which  she  de- 
lighted to  pray  has  given  a  name  to  the 
place."  Watkmson's  "  Survey  of  the  South 
of  Ireland,"  Letter  ix. ,  p.  92. 


47  The  same  writer  tells  us,  such  was  the 
veneration  in  which  it  was  held,  that  no  one 
dared  to  cut  it  with  an  iron  instrument,  al- 
though many  persons  were  accustomed  to 
remove  portions  of  it  with  their  hands. 
These  portions,  however,  were  preserved  as 
relics.  And,  owing  to  St.  Brigid's  blessing, 
it  pleased  the  Almighty  to  accomplish  mi- 
racles, through  the  possession  of  these  lig- 
neous souvenirs.  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga."  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigida,  lib.  ii., 
cap.  iii.,  p.  550. 

^^  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  she  is  represented  as  being  with 
her  sheep,  on  the  occasion  when  Neinidh 
was  first  introduced  to  her  notice,  pp.  31, 
32,  and  again  as  herding  her  sheep,  when  a 
thief  stole  seven  of  them  from  her,  pp.  41,42. 

49  See  an  interesting  paper  on  "  The  Cur- 
ragh of  Kildare,"  by  William  M.  Hennessy, 
M.R.I. A.,  read  February  26th,  1866,  before 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy.  "Proceedings 
of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,"  vol.  ix.,  First 
Series,  pp.  343  to  355. 

5°  This  statement  is  inferred,  from  the 
circumstance  of  her  employing  reapers,  and 
tending  sheep.  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ec- 
clesiastical History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  §  x.,  and  nn.  120,  124,  pp.  406, 
408. 

5' A  representation  of  its  door-way  is 
given  in  Marcus  Keane's  "Towers  and 
Temples  of  Ancient  Ireland,"  p.  257. 

5^  "  An  ancient  cross  stands  in  the  church^ 
yard,  and  fragments  of  a  second ;  but,  they 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  9$ 


founded  there,  has  furnished  a  subject  for  discordant  opinions. 53  From  what 
has  been  already  stated,  it  would  seem  to  be  not  altogether  improbable,  that 
it  had  an  earlier  origin,  than  most  historians  have  very  generally  assumed. 
She  may  have  commenced  her  buildings  not  very  many  years  after  a.d.  470. 
Sir  James  Ware54  and  Harris,55  0'Halloran,56  and  Haverty57  refer  the  founda- 
tion of  her  nunnery  at  Kildare  to  about  the  year  480.  If  we  are  to  credit 
what  appears  to  be  a  purely  legendary  account,  when  St.  Brigid  brought 
Bishop  Mel  with  her  to  draw  out  the  plan  of  her  city,  Ailill,  son  of  Dun- 
king, was  king  over  Leinster.  It  is  also  stated,  that  he  fed  the  builders  and 
paid  their  rightful  wages.s^  Colgan  was  of  opinion,  that  her  convent  might  have 
been  before  or  about  the  year  483.  Archdall  writes,  that  her  nunnery  was 
founded  here  before  a.d.  484.59  About  the  latter  year,  John  D' Alton  states,^ 
St.  Brigid  founded  both  the  nunnery  and  monastery  at  Kildare.  However, 
the  first  institute  had  undoubtedly  the  precedence  of  several  years  over  the 
latter  establishment.  The  year  484  is  the  date  given  for  St.  Brigid's  establish- 
ment at  Kildare,  by  William  M.  Hennessy,^'  and  by  Thomas  James  Rawson.^^ 
Dr.  Lanigan  assigns  it  to  about  a.d.  487,^3  or  at  least  to  before  the  year 
49o.*^4  He  says,  that  if  we  are  to  believe  what  is  said  about  St.  Brigid  having 
foretold  to  Illand,  King  of  North  Leinster,^5  that  he  should  be  victorious  in 
his  battles,  one  of  which  was  that  in  which  Aengus,  King  of  Cashel,  was 
killed,  the  house  at  Kildare  must  have  been  established  before  a.d.  490. 
For,  she  is  spoken  of  as  already  settled  there,  and  that  was  the  year  in  which 
Aengus  fell. 

The  nunnery  of  Kildare,  at  first  humble  in  size  and  pretensions,^^  and. 
poorly  endowed,  in  a  great  measure  had  been  supported  by  eleemosynary 
contributions,  brought  by  people  living  in  the  neighbourhood.  But,  by 
degrees,  its  reputation  and  the  fame  of  its  holy  foundress  became  better 
estabhshed.  Many  pious  ladies  desired  admission  to  this  house,  which,  in  a 
short  time,  became  inconveniently  crowded.^7     Soon  there  was  a  need  for 


are  not  very  interesting  specimens." — Ibid.,  Lewis,  precedes  this  account  of  Kildare  by 

p.  421.  Mr.  D' Alton. 

53  See     "Trias    Thaumaturga,"    Quarta  ^' See  "  Proceedings  of  the   Royal   Irish 
Vita  S.  Brigidae,  n.  lo,  p.  565.  Academy,"  vol.   ix.     First   Series.     Paper 

54  See  Ware,  "  De  Hibernia,  et  Antiquita-  **  On  the  Curragh  of  Kildare,"  p.  349. 
tibusejus,  Disquisitiones,"  cap.  xxvi.,  p.  146.  ^*See  "  Statistical  Survey  of  the  County 

55  See  Harris'  Ware,    vol.  ii.,   "  Antiqui-  of  Kildare,"  Introduction,  p.  x. 

ties  of  Ireland,"  chap,  xxxviii.,  p.  269.  ^3  This  is  inferred  by  him,  considering  that 
There  our  saint  is  ranked  among  the  ca-  she  had  been  in  Munster,  probably  about 
nonesses  of  St.  Augustine's  order.  the  year  484,  and  had  spent  some  time  after- 
s'"  St.  Bridget  founded  her  famous  mo-  wards  in  Connaught,  before  she  lounded 
nastery  in  Kildare,  A.  D.  480,  for  which  she  Kildare. 

formed  particular  rules,  and  which  was  the  ^'»  See  "  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland," 

head   of  her   order." — O'Halloran's    "  Ge-  vol.  i..  chap,  viii.,  sec.  x.,  p.  405. 

neral  History  of  Ireland,''  vol.  ii.,  chap,  vi.,  *s  See  n.  116,  p.  407,  ibid. 

p.  45-  *^  Dr.    Lanigan  justly  observes,    that  in 

57  See  **  The  History  of  Ireland,  Ancient  the  Fourth  Lite  of  our  saint,  book  ii.,  chap. 

and  Modern,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  79.  3,    a  distinction  is  made  between  the  first 

5*  Thus  runs  the  story  in  Professor  O' Loo-  cell,  which  had  been  assigned  her,  imme- 

ney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.    As  a  reward  diately  on  arriving  at  Kildare,  and  the  great 

the  holy  abbess  said  the  race  of  Ailill,  son  monastery,  which  she   afterwards  found  it 

of  Dunlaing,   should  have  the  sovereignty  necessary  to  build,  in  the  same  place.     See 

for  ever." — pp.  33,  34.  "  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 

59  See  "  Monasticon  Hibernicum,"  p.  323.  chap,  viii.,  sec.  x.,  and  n.  126,  pp.  406,  408. 

^See  his  article   in  "  The  Irish  Penny  ^7  See  the  statement  regarding  a  vast  num- 

Magazine,"   vol.    i..  No.  35.     Illustrations  ber  of  her  spiritual  daughters  contained  in 

of  Irish  Topography,  No.  xxxv.,  p.  274.  A  Father  Hugh  Ward  s  "  Dissertatio  Historica 

spirited    wood    engraving    of   the    Round  de   Patria   S.    Rumoldi,"  sec.    10,  p.   186. 

Tower  and  Priory,  from  a  sketch  by  F.  R.  Edited  by  Father  Thomas  O'Sheerin,  O.S.F, 


100  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


enlarging  the  original  buildings. ^^  This  concourse  of  devout  women  was 
not  confined  to  our  saint's  native  province ;  but,  as  has  been  remarked,'^^ 
persons  of  both  sexes  came  in  great  numbers,  from  all  the  provmces  of  Ire- 
land to  her  monastery. 70  To  those  strangers  arriving  on  temporary  visits, 
she  was  accustomed  to  exercise  the  most  liberal  hospitality  ;  especially  to- 
wards church  dignitaries  and  religious,  who  came  to  confer  with  her  on 
matters  of  religious  concern.  Numbers  of  persons,  in  the  higher  walks  of 
life,  souglit  her  advice,  and  felt  honoured  by  her  notice.  These  individuals 
never  applied  for  the  favour  of  her  prayers,  without  obtaining  a  compliance 
with  their  requests.  Having,  in  due  course  of  time  laid  foundations  for  a 
large  monastery,  she  proceeded  with  the  work  of  its  erection  ;  in  which  un- 
dertaking, we  may  suppose,  she  met  the  willing  co-operation  and  assistance  of 
the  Leinster  king  and  neighbouring  people,  who  loved  and  revered  this 
noble  virgin  for  her  extraordinary  virtues  and  merits.  When  completed,  this 
coenobium  furnished  accommodation  to  several  pious  females,  living  under 
her  rule.  Afterwards,  it  became  the  parent  nunnery  of  many  houses,  already 
established  by  her,  and  subsequently  built  throughout  our  island. 7^^  It 
would  seem,  that  soon  after  the  erection  of  her  first  monastery  at  Kildare, 
Crimthann,  King  of  Leinster,  died,  and  obtained  the  rites  of  sepulture  in  or 
near  iu^ 

Numbers  of  infirm  and  poor  flocked  to  Kildare,  seeking  relief  from  their 
various  necessities  ;  and  many  anecdotes  are  related,  regarding  the  charities 
of  St.  Brigid,  especially  towards  this  forlorn  class  of  persons.  With  the  course 
of  time,  several  houses  began  to  appear  around  her  religious  establishment, 
as  it  became  necessary  to  provide  for  the  necessities  of  those,  who  came  from 
a  distance,  or,  who  were  brought  from  more  immediate  districts,  to  assist  at 
the  pious  exercises  and  public  celebrations  of  her  conventual  institute.  By 
degrees,  from  being  merely  a  village,  Kildare  became  a  very  considerable 
town ;  and,  at  length,  its  habitations  extended  in  number  and  size,  so  that  it 
ranked  as  a  city,  at  a  period  somewhat  later.73  St.  Brigid  traced  out  a  line 
of  demarkation,  likewise,  around  the  city,  within  which  boundary  refuge  was 
to  be  obtained,  by  any  fugitive ;  and,  his  claim  to  protection  was  consequently 
allowed,  by  all  those,  who  respected  the  ordinances  and  memory  of  their  lUus- 

^  See  Rev,  S.  Baring-Gould's  "  Lives  of  that  she  was  called  Hibernice  Doniina,  as  we 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  1st,  p.  17.  find  her  styled  in  the  Fifth  Life  (cap.  iii.) 

^  By  Cogilosus.  And  in  the  Rythm   of  St.    Columba,  com- 

7"=  Le  Comte  de  Montalembert  observes,  posed  in  praise  of  her,  she  is  called  Regina. 

**  D'innombrables  couvents  de  femmes  font  See    "  Trias  Thaumaturga."      Anagraphse 

remonter   leur  ongine  a   I'abbesse  de  Kil-  seu    Epilogus  Magnalium  SanctK  Brigida?, 

dare." — "Les  Moines  d'Occident,"  tome  ii.,  sec.  xlvii.,  p.  639. 

liv.  ix.,  chap,  i.,  p.  463.  72  See   Colgan's    "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 

7'  Such   had   been  the  reputation  of  St.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse.     "  Et   ipse  mori- 

Brigid  for  eminent  sanctity,   that  Abbot  Jo-  ens  sepultus   est  apud   S.    Brigidam  in  suo 

annes  de   Bruxella   or   Mauburnus  Livria-  monasterio,"lib.  ii.,  cap.  xii.,p.  552-  Such 

cenis,   in  "  Venatorio  Canonicorum  Regu-  is  the  statement  of  the  author — supposed  to 

larium,"   tells   us,  that  a  great  number  of  be  Animosus — and  he  was  well  acquainted 

monasteries,  and   about   thirteen  thousand  with  the  topography,   history  and  traditions 

nuns,flourished  underthisholysuperior'srule.  of  Kildare. 

So  likewise,  Benedictus  Haeftenus  cites  this  73  "  The  reputation  of  her  sanctity,  and  of 

auvhoriiy,     "Disquisition.  Monasticarum,"  her  power  of  working  miracles,  made  Kil- 

lib.  i.,  tract  6.  disqu.  3.     Colgan  thinks  we  dare   so  much  frequented,   that   the   many 

must  here  understand,  that  if  our  saint  pre-  buildings  erected  about  the  nunnery,  during 

sided  over  so  many  nuns,  she  must  have  go-  her  life  formed  a  town  ;  which   in  time  be- 

verned  them,  not  in  one  house,  but    in  dif-  came   so   considerable   as    to  be  the  place 

ferent  monasteries,  spread   throughout  Ire-  of  the  Cathedral  and  of  the  Episcopal  See." 

land,  she   being  superior  over  all  that  ob-  — Warner's  "  History  of  Ireland,'    vol.  i.^ 

served  the  Rule,  which  she  is  said  to  have  book  vii.,  p.  321. 
written.     Hence,  it  must  have  happened, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,  loi 


trious  civic  foundress. 7^  It  is  also  remarked,  that  Kildare  was  the  metropolitan 
see  of  Leinster,  at  two  different  periods.  In  the  first  instance,  while  St. 
Brigid  lived,  in  that  city  ;  yet,  afterwards  during  the  time  of  Brandiibh,  King 
of  Leinster,  and  about  the  year  578,  the  archiepiscopate  is  said  to  have  been 
transferred  to  Fems.^s  It  is  uncertain,  when  it  had  been  removed  from  the 
latter  place ;  but,  it  is  supposed  to  be  sufficiently  established  as  a  fact,  that 
its  withdrawal  from  Ferns  did  not  occur  until  after  St.  Moling's  death, 7^  in 
the  year  696.77  Again,  it  is  assumed,  that  this  dignity  had  been  restored  to 
Kildare.  before  a.d.  1097,  according  to  testimonies  derived  from  our  national 
Annals.78  It  }^as  been  inferred, 79  Hkewise,  that  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's 
Fourth  Life  must  have  flourished,  while  Kildare  was  a  metropolitan  see — 
not,  however,  at  the  first,  but  during  the  latter  period.  For,  he  adopts  a 
common  opinion,  that  the  bodies  of  Saints  Brigid,  Columkille  and  Patrick 
were  deposited  in  a  common  tomb,  at  Down,  in  Ulster. ^° 

Soon  did  the  people  living  around  her  convent  begin  to  experience  the 
protection  afforded  by  Brigid's  presence  among  them.  On  the  eve  of  a 
certain  solemnity,  while  she  lived  in  the  "  Cell  of  the  Oak,"^'  a  certain  young 
maiden,  who  appears  to  have  been  her  proiei^e,  brought  an  offering  for  her 
patroness.  On  presenting  this  gift,  the  maiden  remarked,  that  she  should 
be  obliged  to  return  home  immediately,  to  take  charge  of  her  parents'  house 
and  flocks.  Her  father  and  mother  desired  to  spend  that  holy  vigil  at  Kil- 
dare. The  abbess  told  their  daughter  to  remain,  and  that  her  parents  should 
come  after  her,  while  the  Almighty  would  protect  their  temporal  substance. 
According  to  St.  Brigid's  prediction,  the  maiden's  parents  followed  her,  and 
together  all  the  family  celebrated  this  festival. ^^  However,  certain  thieves, 
taking  advantage  of  their  absence,  came  in  the  middle  of  the  night  and  stole 
away  their  cattle.  These  they  drove  towards  the  Liffey.  This  river  was 
found  to  have  been  so  greatly  swollen,  that  the  water  flowed  over  its  banks. 
The  robbers  laboured  in  vain,  during  a  great  part  of  the  night,  to  urge  the 
terrified  cattle  through  this  flood.  Then,  taking  off  their  garments,  which 
with  other  effects  they  tied  with  cords  to  the  horns  of  the  cattle,  those  free- 

74  See  Cogitosus,  **  Vita  S.  Brigidas,"  cap.  Mac-an-tsaeir  Ua  Brolchain,a]earned  doctor, 
xiv.  Bishop  of  Kildare  and  of  Leinster,  died. 

75  For  such  statements,  Colgan  refers  to  And,  at  the  year  mo,  departed  "  Feardom- 
Cogitosus,  in  his  Prologue  to  the  Life  of  St.  hnach,  the  most  distinguished  of  the  senior 
Brigid  ;  also  to  chap.  36  of  the  same  Life  ;  jurisconsults,  [and]  lector  of  Cill-dara." 
and  to  his  own  affixed  notes  I,  18  ;  to  Ussher  See  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
in  his  "  Primordia  Ecclesiarum  Britanni-  Masters,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  954,  955,  988,  989. 
carura,"  cap.  xvii,,  p.  965  ;  and  to  the  This  latter  appears  to  have  been  successor 
author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life,  lib.  ii.,  to  the  former  in  the  see  of  Kildare  ;  for,  in 
cap.  3.  Ussher's  "  Veterum  Epistolarum  Hibemi- 

7*  It  appears,  from  the  Life  of  St.  Moling,  carum  Sylloge,"  epist.  34,  we  find  the  name 

whose  festival  occurs  at  the  17th  of  June,  Ferdomnachus     Episcopus     Lageniensium 

that  this  saint  had  been  constituted   Arch-  subscribed   to   an   epistle,    written   by   the 

bishop  of  Leinster,  in  the  see  of  Ferns,  by  people  of  Waterford  to  Anslem,  Archbishop 

Brandubh,  son  of  Eathach,  King  of  Leinster.  of  Canterbury.     See  pp.  91  to  93. 

77  According  to  the  "Annals  of  the  Four  7'  By  Colgan. 

Masters,"    St.    Maedhog,    first  bishop    of  ^°  See  Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

Ferns,  died  a.d.  624  ;  St.  Dachu  Luachra,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxx., 

Abbot  of  Ferns,  died  A.D.  652;  Tuenog,  xcix.,  pp.  554,  562,  563,  and  nn.   13,  14, 

Abbot  of  Ferns,    died   662  ;    Maeldoghar,  pp.  565,  .566,  ibid. 

Bishop  of  Ferns,  died  676  ;  Diraith,  Bishop  ^'  This  is  the  English  nomenclature  of  the 

of  Ferns,  died  690  ;  and  St.  Moling  Luachra,  Latinized  Kildaria,  and  Cill  Dara,  in  Irish. 

Bishop  of  Ferns,  died  696.     See   O'Dono-  C^o// or  A7// signifies  "a  cell,"  and  Dara, 

van's  Edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.  246  to  249,  264,  "the  oak,"  or  its  genitive  case   "of  the 

265,   272,   273,   284,   285,   294,   295,   298,  oak." 

299.  8=^  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of 

^^  At   1097,  we  read,   that  Maelbrighde  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  1st,  p.  19. 


loa  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i, 


booters  intended  to  swim  across  the  river,  when  the  animals  should  be 
urged  into  its  waters.  The  cattle  directed  their  course  towards  St.  Brigid's 
monastery,  instead  of  that  place,  whither  it  had  been  intended  to  drive 
them.^3  The  robbers  followed  after  hoping  to  secure  their  prey.  To  the 
great  confusion  of  these  thieves,  at  day-break  their  guilt  was  manifested  to 
many,  who  knew  them  personally.  They  made  an  humble  confession  of 
their  sins,  however,  in  Kildare,  at  the  instance  of  St.  Brigid.^^  The  owners 
of  the  herd  drove  their  cattle  homewards,  and  thus,  according  to  our  saint's 
prophecy,  their  substance  was  preserved  ;  while  both  the  perpetrators  of  and 
sufferers  from  an  intended  injury  acknowledged  the  interposition  of  Divine 
Providence,  in  such  a  remarkable  incident. ^s 

Again,  on  the  eve  of  a  festival,  a  girl  brought  alms  to  St.  Brigid.  De- 
livering her  gift,  she  said,  it  would  be  necessary  to  return  towards  her  home, 
as  her  foster-father,  an  old  and  a  paralytic  man,  had  been  left  alone,  nor  had 
he  any  person  to  care  the  house  or  milk  his  cows.  Brigid  counselled  her  to 
remain  there,  however,  for  that  night.  Her  visitor  did  so,  and  returned 
home  on  the  following  day,  after  having  received  Holy  Eucharist.  The 
cows  and  calves  were  found  feeding  apart  in  the  fields,  nor  did  the  former 
seem  to  suffer  in  the  least  degree,  as  a  consequence  of  their  not  having  been 
milked.  The  old  man  acknowledged,  likewise,  that  during  the  night  his 
foster-daughter  dwelt  with  our  saint,  the  cattle  continued  to  feed  on  their 
pasturage,  while  he  remained  awake  the  whole  time  since  her  departure.^*^ 
This  did  not  seem  to  extend  beyond  the  interval  of  a  single  hour.  It  was 
a  mystery,  only  known  to  the  Almighty,  who  had  thus  miraculously  disposed 
the  result.^7 

On  a  particular  day,  certain  insolent  and  idle  ruffians  approached  our 
saint.  Wearing  diabolical  badges  on  their  heads,  they  intended  the  death  of 
a  particular  person.  These  miscreants  asked — it  is  probable  in  mockery — 
a  blessing  from  Brigid,  and  she,  in  her  turn,  requested  them  to  put  away  their 
emblems.  This,  however,  they  refused  to  do.  Seeing  the  form  of  badge 
adopted,  our  pious  abbess  was  shocked  ;  nevertheless,  she  marked  them  with 
a  sign  of  the  cross,  not  for  the  purpose  of  blessing  them,  but  to  counteract 
those  designs  entertained  against  their  fellow-creatures.  The  rufhans  de- 
parted with  their  brutal  instincts  aroused.  Finding  a  poor  man  on  their 
way,  they  attacked,  murdered,  and  afterwards,  as  they  thought,  beheaded 
him.  However,  this  turned  out  to  be  their  phantasy,  for  that  man  escaped 
unhurt  and  through  the  midst  of  his  enemies  until  he  reached  his  own  house. 
After  a  close  investigation,  these  persecutors  found  neither  his  head,  nor 
body,  nor  any  traces  of  blood.      Wherefore  they  said  to  each  other :  "  A 

'3  This  account  is  contained  in  Professor  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  27,  p.  516.     Secunda 

O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  27,  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xvii.,  p.  520,  ibid, 

28.  ^^  When  relating  this  occurrence,  in  his 

^*  The  foregoing  narrative  is  very  circum-  usual  manner,  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani 

stantially  detailed  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  compares  the  paralytic  to  those  Northern 

Certani's  "  La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  people,  mentioned  by  Olaus,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 

S.   Brigida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  14,  and  whose  eyes  are  accommodated  to 

27s  to  279.  see  throughout  the  night.    See  "  La  Santit^ 

®s  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga. "  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.   iv.,  Libro  Quarto,  pp.  279,  280. 

PP- 550.  551-     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  .cap.  ^7  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

xlvii.,  pp.   531,  532,  ibid.     Sexta  Vita  S.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  v.,  p. 

Brigidae,  sect,  xxxvi.,  p.   589,   ibid.     It  is  551.     Also,   Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidae,  cap. 

likely  enough,  from  the  similarity  of  most  xlviii.,  p.  552,  ibid.     In  the  Metrical  Life, 

circumstances  narrated,  that  the  foregoing  we  are  told,  tnat  the  sun  seemed  to  shine 

narrative  is  only  a  different  version  of  what  without  cessation,  during  the  whole  time  of 

is  related  in  our  saint's  acts,  by  the  authors  this  girl's  absence  from  home.     See  Sexta 

of  her  First  and  Second  Lives.     See  Prima  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  sect,  xxxvii.,  p.  590. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,  103 


miracle  hath  taken  place,  through  the  providence  of  God,  and  St.  Brigid's 
merits,  for  we  have  not  killed  this  man,  although  the  contrary  seemed  to 
be  the  case."  For  a  long  time,  the  celebrity  of  this  circumstance  was  noised 
about  through  that  part  of  the  country.  Those  vagabonds  afterwards  laid 
aside  their  emblems,  and  united  in  praising  the  Almighty,  while  magnifying 
St.  Brigid's  extraordinary  prerogatives.^^  The  foregoing  events,  as  related,^? 
apparently  occurred  before  St.  Brigid  took  her  journey  into  Munster  with 
Bishop  Ere  of  Slane  ;9o  and  therefore,  we  may  deem  it  sufficiently  probable, 
she  had  been  living  at  Kildare,  antecedent  to  this  excursion. 

The  social  relations  of  men  were  often  disturbed  by  violence  and  treachery 
at  that  early  period.  A  chieftain,  who  lived  in  the  plain  of  the  Liffey,  came 
towards  our  saint,  asking  her  blessing.  This  the  holy  virgin  specially  be- 
stowed on  him.  With  great  joy,  the  chief  returned  to  his  castle.  But  during 
the  night,  a  daring  and  hostile  man  entered  the  fort,  while  its  occupants 
were  asleep.  Taking  a  light  from  its  candlestick,9^  he  sought  the  slumbering 
chieftain.  He  was  found  with  a  sword,  laid  on  the  pillow,  beside  him. 
Seizing  this  sword  of  the  chieftain,  his  enemy  plunged  it  with  great  force 
three  several  times,  as  he  thought,  into  the  owner's  heart,  and  afterwards  he 
fled.  The  castle  inmates  aroused  soon  discovered  what  had  taken  place. 
They  sent  forth  loud  cries  and  lamentations,  supposing  their  chief  had  been 
slain.  The  latter,  however,  seemed  to  awaken  as  it  were  from  sleep,  and  it 
was  found  the  wound  he  received  was  not  of  a  dangerous  character.  He 
consoled  his  friends  by  saying  :  "  Cease  your  lamentations,  for  St.  Brigid's 
blessing,  which  I  obtained  to-day,  hath  preserved  me  from  this  great  danger." 
The  chieftain,  to  manifest  his  gratitude  for  that  miraculous  escape,  visited  St. 
Brigid.  thanking  her  and  offering  her  valuable  presents,  on  the  following  day. 
Our  saint  established  peace,  afterwards,  between  the  chief  and  that  enemy, 
who  sought  his  life,  as  also  among  their  posterity.  This  too  was  continued 
for  an  indefinite  period.92  Thus  her  mediation,  through  God's  blessing,  was 
both  effective  and  lasting.  Can  we  doubt,  therefore,  as  her  protection  over 
her  people  was  so  powerful  on  earth,  that  it  will  be  less  exercised  in  heaven, 
on  behalf  of  those,  who  devoutly  invoke  her  vigilant  advocacy  ?  Too  fre- 
quently, alas  !  do  we  forget  the  powerful  assistance  our  great  national  saints 
can  render  us  before  the  throne  of  God. 

^*  See  Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  and  died  A.D.  $14." — Sir  William  Robert 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xl.,  Wilde's   "Beauties  of  the  Boyne,  and  its 

p.  556.      From  the  manner  in  which  this  Tributary,  the  Blackwater,"  chap,  vii.,  p. 

same  occurrence  is  related,   in  our   saint's  175. 

Third  Life,  it  would  seem,  that  these  dia-  9'  In  these,  and  like  incidental  notices, 
bolical  emblems  subjected  the  bearers  to  we  have  some  idea  given  regarding  the  do- 
certain  unchristian  engagements  or  incanta-  mestic  economy  of  our  ancestors,  at  least,  at 
tions.  The  signs,  borne  by  those  vagrants,  the  period,  in  which  those  documents  relat- 
in  all  probability,  represented  obscene  or  ing  to  ancient  usages  were  composed, 
monstrous  figures,  typifying  certain  hea-  ^2  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
thenish  superstitions.  See  Vita  Tertia  S.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xli., 
Brigidae,  cap.  Ixix.,  and  n.  41,  pp.  535,  544,  p,  556.  Our  saint's  Third  Life  states,  that 
ibid.  I  rather  think  this  is  the  miracle  al-  thechief  was  accompanied  bysome  women — 
luded  to,  in  St.  Brigid's  First  Life,  section  probably  members  of  his  family — and  a  re- 
xxxiii.,  and  in  her  Second  Life,  cap.  xxiii.  tinue,  when  he  visited  St.  Brigid.  It  would 
Colgan  refers  these  latter  accounts  to  the  seem,  that  the  castle  in  which  he  slept  was 
performance  of  a  miracle,  somewhat  similar  .  not  his  own,  as  it  is  said  to  have  been  situ- 
in  details.  ated  on  the  road  to  his  own  domicile.     See 

^9  In  the  Third  and  Fourth  Lives  of  the  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Ixx.,  p.  535, 

saint.  ibid. 

90  Ere  "was  consecrated  hj  St.  Patrick, 


104  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ST.  BRIGID'S  intimacy  with  ST.  PATRICK— ARMAGH— FOUNDATION  OF  ST.  BRIGID 
THERE— HER  MIRACLES— VISION  REGARDING  ST.  PATRICK'S  LAST  RESTING-PLACE — 
HER  SPIRIT  OF  SUBLIME  RECOLLECTION  AND  HER  GREAT  CHARITY— SHE  DESIRES 
THE  INTRODUCTION   OF  THE   ROMAN   RITE   FOR  IRELAND. 

Although  some  doubts  have  been  expressed,  that  St.  Brigid  could  have 
taken  a  very  distinguished  part  in  Irish  Church  affairs,  during  the  Hfetime  of 
our  venerable  Apostle  ;  yet,  to  us,  it  seems  perfectly  reconcileable,  not  only 
with  our  early  narratives,  but  with  received  chronology,  that  the  glorious 
daughter  of  Erin  might  have  had  interviews  with  her  illustrious  director,  both 
before  and  after  the  time  of  her  foundation  at  Kildare.  To  determine  ex- 
actly dates  for  the  following  written  incidents  is,  however,  a  matter  of  great 
difficulty.  We  must  endeavour  conjecturally  to  place  them  in  their  order  of 
occurrence,  so  far  as  probabilities  will  allow  us  to  continue.  Perhaps,  the 
arrangement,  with  better  lights  of  view,  might  admit  of  various  alterations 
or  adaptations.  After  certain  miraculous  occurrences,  related  in  her  acts, 
took  place — the  date  or  locality  unnoted — it  is  said  our  saint  went  towards 
the  northern  part  of  Ireland,  accompanied  by  St.  Patrick. '  On  a  certain 
day,  while  the  great  Irish  Apostle  in  the  plain  of  Lemhuin^  preached  God's 
holy  word  from  a  hilP  to  the  people  there,  at  a  place  called  Einnabhair,'^  or 
"the- white  field,"  St.  Brigid  slept.  She  was  probably  very  young  at  this  time. 
After  his  sermon  had  been  concluded,5  St.  Patrick  asked  her  why  she  had 
fallen  asleep  while  the  sacred  word  of  God  was  announced.^  Then  the 
humble  virgin,  on  her  knees,  asked  his  pardon.  She  said  :  "  O  father,  for- 
give me  ;  O  most  pious  Lord,  spare  me,  for  during  this  hour,  I  have  had  a 
vision."  The  illustrious  missionary  desired  her  to  tell  what  she  had  seen. 
Whereupon,  the  devout  virgin  announced  :  "  I,  your  servant,  have  beheld 
four  ploughs,  ploughing  the  whole  of  Ireland,  while  sowers  were  scattering 
seed.7  This  latter  immediately  sprung  up  and  began  to  ripen,  when  rivulets 
of  fresh  milk  filled  the  furrows,  while  the  sowers  themselves  were  clothed  in 
white  garments.  After  this,  I  saw  others  plough,  and  those  who  ploughed 
appeared  black.^     They  destroyed,  with  their  plough-shares,  the   growing 

Chapter  vii.— '  See  Colgan's    "Trias  150,  and  n.  11,  p.  184. 
Thaumaturga, "   Tertia   Vita    S.    Brigidae,  s  The  Acts  of  St.  Patrick  relate,  that  this 

cap.  Ivii.,  p.  533.     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  sermon  lasted  three  days  and  three  nights, 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxvii.,  pp.  553,  554.  at  the  hill  of  Finnabhair  at   Lemhuin.     It 

"The  fort  of  Augher  and  the  village  of  was  in  the  county  of  Tyrone  and  d.ocese  of 
Ballygawley  are  in  it.  Clogher  lay  on  its  Clogher.  The  River  Blackwater  ran  through 
western  and  the  church  of  Errigle-Keeroge  it.  Finnabhair  is  now  corrui)tly  called  Fin- 
on  its  northern  boundary.  Its  other  name,  dermore,  a  townland  in  the  parish  and  ba- 
Clossach,  is  frequently  mentioned  in  O'Mel-  rony  of  Clogher.  See  '*  Ordnance  Survey 
lan's  Irish  "Journal  of  the  Wars  of  1641  ;"  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of  Tyrone," 
in  Colton's    "  Visitation,"  p.    126  ;  in  the  Sheets  58,  64. 

••Book  of  Rights,"  p.   152  ;  in  the  "Irish  ^ To  Brigid,    it  is   said,  the  time  of  the 

Topographical    Poems"  of  O'Dugan    and  sermon  did  not  seem  to  be  more  than  one 

O'Huidhrin,  p.    xxi.,   n.   (119).     See  Miss  hour. 

M.    F.    Cusack's   "  Life    of  St.    Patrick,  7  In  the  Sixth  Metrical  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 

Apostle  of  Ireland,"  p.  451,  n.  2.  it  is  stated,  the  white  sowers  came  from  the 

3  So   the   Seventh    Life  of  St.    Patrick  East, 
states.                                                                *       8  In  her  Sixth   Metrical  Life,  in  Colgan's 

*See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  ** Trias  Thaumaturga,"  St.  Brigid  is  made 

Joceline's  or   Sexta  Vita   S.   Patricii,  cap.  to  say  : — 

xcvi.,  pp.  86,  87,  and  n.  105,  p.  113.    This  ,,  ^.  .  ,  ^        ,         ^    ,  .     . 

place  was  situated  in  the  ancient  territory  of  Conspexi  populos  septem  de  parte  trioms, 

Liemania,  sometimes  called  Magh-Lemna,  ^'S"^  ,?""^   \^oy^\^^x^    vementes    vultibus 

or  Clossach,  by  others.     See  ibid.,  Septima  atns. 

Vita  S.  Patricii,  pars,  iii.,  cap.  iv.,  pp.  149,  — Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  Ixv.,  p.  595, 


February  i.]       LTVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


105 


corn  ;  and,  they  sowed  tares,  which  filled  the  furrows."^  The  Irish  Apostle 
then  said  to  our  saint :  "  O  holy  virgin,  you  have  beheld  a  true  and  wonder- 
ful vision.  This  is  its  interpretation.  We  are  the  good  ploughers,  who, 
with  the  shares  of  the  four  Gospels,  cultivate  human  hearts,  and  sow  God's 
words,  while  those  rivers,  containing  the  milk  of  Christian  faith,  proceed  from 
our  labours.  But,  towards  the  end  of  this  world,  bad  teachers  shall  preach 
to  depraved  generations,  who  will  receive  them.*°  Those  teachers"  shall 
destroy  our  instructions,  and  shall  seduce  nearly  the  whole  human  race."" 
Brigid  also  had  a  vision  regarding  the  two  sons  of  Eochaidh,'3  son  of  Crim- 
thann,'*  at  the  same  place. 's  The  elder  of  these,  named  Bressal,  was  re- 
presented by  the  figure  of  a  large  stone,  wasting  away  under  falling  showers  ; 
while,  the  younger,  Carbre,  svirnamed  Damhairgid,  was  denoted  by  a  smaller 
stone,  which  increased,  and  sent  forth  bright  sparks,  as  the  rain  fell.'^  St. 
Patrick  interpreted  this  to  mean,  that  the  rain  represented  the  shower  of 
celestial  grace,  falling  in  vain  on  the  unbeliever  Bressal,  while,  its  dews,  de- 
scending on  the  believer  Carbre,^?  signified  an  increase  to  him  of  blessings 
for  the  future.'^  Hereupon,  those  who  were  then  present,  with  St.  Patrick 
and  St.  Brigid,  praised  Almighty  God. '9  A  synod  had  been  convened  at 
this  place.^°  The  degeneracy  of  Christian  feeling  and  practice,  during  sub- 
sequent times,  as  also  the  efforts  of  heretical  and  false  teachers  to  pervert  the 


9  In  the  Acts  of  St.  Patrick,  we  find  the 
following  additional  particulars  described  in 
her  vision  : — "  And  after  that,  I  saw  spotted 
and  motley-coloured  oxen,  then  wild  and 
black  animals.  After  these  I  saw  sheep 
and  swine  and  wolves  and  dogs  contending 
with  one  another."  See  Rev.  S.  Baring- 
Gould's  "Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii., 
February  I,  p.  21. 

'°  St.  Patrick  describes  the  evil  teachers 
as — 

**  Pastores  cupidi,  qui  plus  sua  lucra  se- 
quentur, 
Non  frumenta  satis,    sed  lolia    subdere 

sulcis 
Curabunt,"  &c. 

— See  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidce,  sec.  Ixv.,  p. 
395.  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  This 
metrical  account  was  supplied  from  a  MS. 
in  the  library  of  his  Emmence  Cardinal 
Antonio  Barberini,  p.  1062,  being  wanting 
in  the  Monte  Casino  MS. 

^*  They  are  called  deluders  and  hypocrites 
in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St. 
Brigid,  pp.  29,  30. 

'^  The  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould,  a  clergyman 
of  the  Anglican  Church,  calls  the  foregoing 
a  remarkable  prophecy  regarding  "the 
miserable  apostasy  of  the  so-called  Refor- 
mation."— "  Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii., 
February  I,  p.  21. 

^3  Eochaidh  was  prince  of  Oirgallia.  Thus, 
Aubrey  de  Vere  alludes  to  him,  in  the  poem, 
*'  Saint  Patrick  and  King  Eochaidh"  : — 

**  Eochaidh,   son  of  Cruimther,  reigned,  a 
king 
Northward  in  Clochar." 
— "Legends  of  St.  Patrick,"  p.  149. 


^4  Crimthann  was  son  to  Fieg,  son  of 
Deadad,  son  to  Rochad,  son  of  Colla  Dach- 
rioch,  according  to  the  "  Sanctilogic  Ge- 
nealogy," chap.  xiii. 

'5 "  I  saw  subsequently  two  stones,  one 
little  and  the  other  big.  A  drop  was  shed 
on  each  of  them.  The  little  stone  increased 
at  the  'drop,'  and  silvery  sparks  burst 
from  it.  The  large  stone  withered,  more- 
over." These  words  of  Brigid,  St.  Patrick 
interpreted  to  mean  Cairpre  Damhairgit, 
who  believed  and  was  blessed  with  his  seed, 
and  Bresal,  who  refused  to  believe,  when  a 
malediction  was  pronounced  against  him. 
See  Miss  Mary  F.  Cusack's  "Life  of  St. 
Patrick,  Apostle  of  Ireland,"  p.  452. 

^''  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Septima  Vila  S.  Patricii,  pars,  iii.,  cap.  vi., 
and  n.  12,  pp.  150,  184. 

'7  Among  the  posterity  of  Carbry, 
blessed  by  St.  Patrick,  we  find  enumerated 
there,  St.  Endteus  of  Aran,  St.  Fanchea, 
St.  Teganus,  St.  Darenia,  and  St.  Lochina, 
sisters  to  St.  Endseus,  St.  Beg  Mac  De,  with 
many  other  saints.  See  Colgan's  "Acta 
Sanctorum  Hibemise,"  xxi.  Martii,  Ap- 
pendix ad  Vitam  S.   Endaei,  cap.  iv.,  pp. 

713,  714. 

^«Only  the  writer  of  St.  Brigid's  Sixth 
Life  mentions  this  vision  of  the  saint  in  her 
Actb.  See  Colgan's  * '  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  sec  Ixvi.,  andn.  17, 
pp.  595.  598. 

^9  See  ibid..  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib. 
ii.,  cap.  xxvii.,  pp.  553,  554.  Vita  Tertia 
S.  BrigidiE,  cap.  Ivii.,  p.  533,  ibid. 

'°  According  to  some  accounts,  St.  Patrick 
is  said  to  have  held  nearly  sixty  synods  in 
Ireland.  See  Villaneuva's  "  Sancti  Pa- 
tricii, Ibernorum  Apostoli,  Synodi,  Ca- 
nones,  Opuscula,"  &c.,  pp.  7,  8. 


lo6  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.         [February  j. 


minds  and  principles  of  the  faithful  in  Ireland,^^  have  been  popularly  be- 
lieved to  furnish  the  correct  interpretation  for  this  remarkable  Brigitine 
vision. 

It  is  probable,  Lemhuin  and  Finnabhair  are  the  places  alluded  to,  where 
St.  Patrick  and  St.  Brigid,  with  their  religious,  are  said  to  have  been  assem- 
bled at  a  time  the  holy  Apostle  of  Ireland  did  not  cease  giving  instructions 
to  the  people,  for  three  whole  days  and  three  nights.^*^  The  sun  continued 
shining,  as  we  are  told  ;  however,  during  this  protracted  sermon,  the  auditors 
supposed,  that  not  more  than  an  hour  had  elapsed.  One  man  only  had  a 
knowledge  regarding  what  length  of  time  had  been  spent  in  this  place.  On 
approaching,  he  asked  the  holy  Bishop,  why  he  had  remained  there  for  so 
long  an  interval.  The  Apostle  asked  him  what  time  had  elapsed,  and  was 
then  told  a  duration,  equal  to  three  days  and  as  many  nights.  Then  said 
the  holy  father :  "  For  forty  days  and  nights,  we  should  have  remained  here, 
had  not  a  stranger  warned  us  about  our  delay,  nor  should  we  have  experi- 
enced fatigue  nor  hunger,  through  the  Divine  clemency."  Afterwards,  St, 
Patrick  and  St.  Brigid  returned  to  their  respective  districts.  =^3  Those  are 
not  specified ;  but,  it  may  be,  St.  Patrick  proceeded  on  his  missionary  career 
through  Ulster,  while  Brigid  returned  to  her  home  or  convent  in  Meath  or 
Leinster.'4 

It  is  related,  that  Brigid  visited  Armagh,  most  probably  after  she  had 
established  her  parent  house  at  Kildare.  She  always  desired  the  wise  counsel 
of  St.  Patrick.^5  it  may  not  be  unlikely,  this  journey  was  undertaken  at 
the  special  request  of  the  Irish  Apostle  himself  He  intended  Armagh  to  be 
the  seat  of  ecclesiastical  rule  ;  and,  here  he  is  said  to  have  built,  not  alone 
his  cathedral  church, ^"^  but  likewise,  several  other  religious  houses.^'^  What 
could  be  more  desirable,  than  founding  a  holy  institute,  where  his  fervent 
female  converts  could  find  a  happy  retreat  and  a  career  of  Christian  useful- 
ness ?  Who  could  be  chosen  more  capable  of  teaching  nuns,  both  by  word 
and  example,  than  the  zealous  and  energetic  Abbess  of  Kildare  ?^^  If  we 
are  to  believe  a  modern  compilation,  St.  Patrick  founded  Temple  Brigid  in 
this  city  of  Armagh.^s  It  seems  more  likely,  that  the  Regies  Brighde,  or  St. 
Bride's  Church,  if  founded  during  his  lifetime,  had  been  also  the  joint  con- 
cern of  St.  Brigid,  to  accommodate  some  religious  daughters,  belonging  to  her 
order.     Long  after  her  decease,  the  coarbs.  of  the  Regies  Brighde,3°  are  men- 

"  See  the  foregoing  narative  produced  in  this  place,  A.D.  455,  to  St.  Binen  ;  and  that 

Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santit^  he  died  at  Saul  or  Sabhal,  A.D.  493.     See 

Prodigiosa,     Vitadi  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  chap,  i.,  pp.  82,  84,  85. 

Libro  Quarto,  pp.  323  to  326.  ="7  An   inexact  historical  compiler  aflfinns, 

"  See    Abbate   Giacomo  Certani's    **  La  that  St.  Patrick  founded  an  abbey   at   Ar- 

Santit^   Prodigiosa.      Vita    di   S.   Brigida  magh  for  regular  Canons  of  St.  Augustine's 

Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  326,  327.  order,  in  445  or    457.      See    Sir    Charles 

'3  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga,"  Coote's  "  Statistical  Survey  of  the  County 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxiii.  of  Armagh,"  Appendix,  p.  29. 

p.  555.     In   the   Third   Life  of  our  saint,  ''^  We   are   informed,  that  "she  was  in- 

this  sermon  was  preached,    it  is  stated,    at  vited  to  come  and  form  establishments  in 

the  request  of  St.  Brigid.     See  Vita  Tertia  various  districts." — Rev.     M.  J.    Brenan's 

S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Ixiii.,  p.  534.     Ibid.  "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  chap. 

'^The   foregoing  incidents  are  probably  iii.,  p.  51. 

referable  to  St.   Brigid's  earliest  interviews  =9 See   Sir  Charles   Coote's   "Statistical 

with  St.  Patrick.  Survey  of   the  County  of  Armagh,"   Ap- 

»sSee  "The  Life  of  St.   Brigid,"   by  an  pendix,  p.  30. 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  vii.,  pp,  87,  88.  30  in  Irish,   tlejlef  btM^-oe.     This  little 

"*  James  Stuart,  A.B.,  who  has  published  conventual  church  was  outside  the  rath.    Its 

"  Historical  Memoirs  of  the   City  of  Ar-  situation  is  marked  on  the  Map  of  the  Citv 

magh,"  states,  that  St.  Patrick  built  a  ca-  of    Armagh,     constructed     on  J.    Roque  s 

thedral  and   some   other   religious   edifices  Map  of  1760,  and  R.   Levingstone's  Survey 

there,  A.D.  445  ;  that  he  held  a  synod  there,  of  1767,  prefixed  to  the  Rev.  Wm.  Reeves' 

A.D.  448  ;  that  he  resigned  the  bishopric  of  "Ancient  Churches  of  Armagh,"  sec.   v., 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS 


107 


lioned  in  our  annals.3^  Now  St.  Bride's  shares  its  honours  with  a  paddockJ^ 
From  the  expression  coarb,^^  or  abbatial  successor,  we  may  conclude  that, 
though  small,  it  was  a  religious  house  which  might  have  traced  back  its 
origin  to  the  era  of  its  reputed  founder. 34  In  1179,  the  Regies  Brighde 
and  the  Teampull-na-Fearta35  escaped  a  wide-spread  conflagration,36  which 
consumed  the  greater  part  of  Armagh. 37  In  11 89,  however,  Armagh  was 
burned  from  St.  Brigid's  cross  to  the  Regies  Brighde.38  The  occupants  of 
the  nunnery  here  were  possibly  of  St.  Brigid's  order,  and  observants  of  her 
rule,  from  the  earliest  period.39  Two  townlands  belonging  to  it,  at  one  time, 
paid  a  rental  of  four  shillings  a  year. 4°  Afterwards,  these  endowments  seem 
to  have  been  absorbed  in  some  more  powerful  interest ;  for,  at  the  period  of 
the  suppression  of  religious  houses,  its  sole  possessions  were  the  building 
and  the  surrounding  premises,  which  occupied  about  one  acre.^^  At  the  time 
of  the  dissolution42  it  was  a  nunnery,  and  possibly  a  cell  of  Templefertagh  ;  for, 
in  inquisitions  and  patents,  both  are  coupled,  and  they  have  changed  hands 
in  company  ever  since.43  The  precincts  of  Templebreed  occupy  an  irregular 
space,  situated  to  the  south-east  of  the  Protestant  cathedral,  at  Armagh,  and 
having  frontage  in  the  middle,  at  the  south  side  of  Castle-street.44  The 
old  Catholic  chapel  stands  on  the  south-west  bound,  and  the  site  of  Temple- 
breed  lies  about  thirty  yards  north-east  of  the  near  end  of  the  chapel.45  An 
ancient  cemetery  adjoined  the  nunnery. 4^  The  historian  of  Armagh  cor- 
rectly identifies  Teampull  na  Fearta  with  the  Dobbin  holding  ;47  yet,  strange 
to  say,  elsewhere,  he  professes  his  inability  to  determine  its  position.48    Like 


p.  25.  Printed  for  the  Author,  Lusk : 
MDCCCLX,  small  8vo. 

3'  The  "  Annals  of  Ulster"  and  "  Annals 
of  the  Four  Masters"  record  atA.D,  1085. 
the  death  of  Gormgeal  Loighseach.  See 
Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scrip- 
tores,"  tomusiii.,  p.  648,  and  tomus  iv.  p. 
350.  In  the  former  Annals,  the  Latinized 
rendering  is  "  Vicaria  Ecclesise  S.  Brigidse 
in  Ardmacha,  sapiens  intelligentia  et  pie- 
tate."  In  the  "Annals  of  the  Four  Mas- 
ters," *'  Gormgalus  Lagisiensis  Vicarius  Ec- 
clesise  Brigidse  in  Ardmacha,  sapiens  sci- 
entia  et  religione." 

3' See  Rev.  William  Reeves'  "Ancient 
Churches  of  Armagh,"  p.  3. 

33  The  word  coarb  is  applied  to  the  suc- 
cessor or  representative  of  the  patron  saint, 
or  original  founder  of  a  monastery,  priory, 
or  any  ecclesiastical  establishment,  or  to  the 
successor  of  a  bishop.  See  Owen  Connel- 
lan's  and  Philip  MacDermott's  "Annals  of 
Ireland,  translated  from  the  original  Irish 
of  the  Four  Masters,"  n.  2,  p,  i. 

34  See  Rev.  Dr.  Reeves'  "Ancient 
Churches  of  Armagh,"  sec.  v.,  p.  25. 

33  This  is  represented  as  having  been  the 
present  Scotch-street,  supposed  by  Dr. 
Reeves  to  have  been  called  Templefartagh- 
street  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  II.  See 
ibid.,  sec.  i.,  p.  ii. 

3*  See  Rev.  Robert  King's  "Memoir  in- 
troductory to  the  early  History  of  the  Pri- 
macy of  Armagh,"  p.  iii. 

37  Probably  on  account  of  their  position 
outside  the  rath,  and  the  densely-occupied 
portion  of  the  town. 

3^  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  iii.,  pp.  84,  85. 


39 See  Rev.  William  Reeves'  "Ancient 
Churches  of  Armagh,"  sec.  i.,  p.  10. 

/"According  to   Primate  Dowdall's  Re- 
gister  of  the  See  of  Armagh. 

4' An  inquisition  of  1612,  finds  that  this 
was  a  nunnery.  Ultonia  Inq.  Armagh,  No. 
3,  James  I. 

42  Then  it  was  occupied  by  a  singer,  or 
"cantator,"  who  resided  in  said  monastery, 
place,  or  house,  called  Templebreed. 

43  Both  lots,  known  as  the  two  Abbey 
Courts,  or  the  Earl  of  Anglesey's  Liberty, 
were  assigned  by  lease  in  1799,  and  this 
was  converted  into  fee  by  the  late  Leonard 
Dobbin,  Esq. 

44  The  nunnery  enclosure  extended  back- 
wards down  the  slope,  south  and  south-east, 
to  near,  but  not  touching,  Thomas-street. 

43  On  the  Castle-street  frontage  of  St. 
Brigid's  ground  stood  the  old  castellated  house 
which  gave  name  to  the  street.  It  was  an- 
ciently called  Port-Rath  or  Rath- Armagh, 
and  occasionally  Rathene.  See  Stuart's 
"  Historical  Memoir  of  the  City  of  Armagh," 
chap,  v.,  p.  144. 

4^  See  the  "Dublin  Penny  Journal,"  for 
notice  of  an  ancient  bronze  seal  belonging 
to  a  former  Dean  of  Armagh,  vol.  ii.,  p. 
112.  This  communication  of  the  late  John 
Corry,  the  truest  antiquary  Armagh  ever 
produced,  is  accompanied  by  an  illustration. 
The  seal  was  found  on  the  site  of  Temple 
Brigid. 

47  See  "  Historical  Memoirs  of  the  City 
of  Armagh."  chap,  xxvi.,  pp.  511,  512,  514. 

'''^'Stt  ibid.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  83,  87,  and  in 
the  Appendices  vi.  and  vii.  Stuart  conjec- 
tures, that  it  was  at  an  old  abbey,  used  as  a 
cemetery  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  cen- 


Io8 


LIVES  OJP  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,       [February  i. 


many  other  cathedral  cities,  Armagh  sprung  up  and  extended  around  its 
minster  church.  It  likewise  grew  by  degrees  into  beauty  of  design  and 
appearance.'*^    Incomparably  fine  and  picturesque  views  of  it  are  furnished 


City  of  Armagh,  from  the  East. 

at  every  point  of  approach  ;  hills  and  valleys  and  rushing  streams  give  va- 
riety and  interest  to  each  of  its  suburbs. 

The  ready  resources  of  true  charity,  as  exercised  on  behalf  of  our  neigh- 
bour, are  ever  versatile,  and  applicalDle  towards  objects  and  conditions, 
which  call  forth  their  exercise  by  cloistered  religious.  One  day,  a  poor 
leper  came  to  our  saint,  entreating  permission  to  have  his  garments  washed 
at  her  establishment.  It  is  probable,  that  some  public  provision  had  been 
there  made.  Brigid  compassionately  assented  to  the  leper's  request,  and 
when  told  by  the  afflicted  pauper,  that  he  had  no  other  garments  for  a 
change,  while  what  he  wore  should  be  washed  and  dried,  our  holy  abbess 
directed  one  of  her  nuns  to  present  him  with  her  second  habit,  which  she 
was  not  obliged  to  wear.  Having  a  very  natural  objection  to  give  her 
clothes  to  a  man,  labouring  under  so  loathsome  a  disease,  that  nun  could 
hardly  bear  such  a  proposal.  She  was  immediately  struck  with  leprosy, s° 
for  her  disobedience,  and  she  continued  in  this  state  for  the  lapse  of  an  hour. 
Then,  indeed,  she  repented  on  account  of  her  refusal.  Through  the  prayers 
of  St.  Brigid,  however,  she  was  soon  cleansed  from  this  infectious  disease.s^ 


tury,  and  that  it  was  situated  within  the 
Protestant  Primate's  demesne.  See  p.  598. 
*9  The  annexed  view,  from  a  photograph 
by  Frederick  W.  Mares,  Dublin,  was  drawn 
on  the  wood  by  William  F.  Wakeman,  and 
engraved  by  George  A.  Hanlon.  On  a  high 
hill  to  the  right  is  the  new  Catholic  cathe- 
dral, with  its  double  flanking  towers  and 
spires.  The  Protestant  cathedral,  with  its 
square  tower,   occupies  a  high  hill  in  the 


centre  of  the  city. 

5°  The  Sixth  Life  of  our  saint  says  : — 

*  *  Virgineamque    cutem    percussit  Candida 

lepra." 
— Colgan's    "  Trias   Thaumaturga,"    Sexta 
Vita  ti.  Brigidse,  sec.  Ixiii.,  p.  596. 

5'  The  leprosy  of  cold  climates  seems  to 
be  a  local  disease  of  the  cutis,  its  vessels 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  109 


One  of  the  other  nuns,  with  more  charity,  had  already  presented  the  poor 
man  with  a  garment,  whilst  all  the  community  acknowledged  the  justice  of 
God's  judgment  on  their  now  penitent  sister.  When  the  poor  leper  had 
resumed  his  own  attire,  the  holy  abbess  procured  for  him,  likewise,  the 
blessing  of  a  release  from  his  miserable  condition.  Her  sisters  gave  thanks 
to  God,  on  witnessing  these  manifestations  of  His  Almighty  power.  The 
holy  abbess  and  her  nuns  dwelt  in  a  particular  cell,  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  where  the  foregoing  occurrences  took  place.  One  night,  during 
Lenten  time,  eight  darmg  thieves  came  to  steal  four  horses,  which  belonged 
to  the  community.  A  nun,  who  remained  awake  at  that  time,  announced  to 
our  saint  this  robbery  which  had  been  perpetrated.  The  abbess  said  :  "  Be 
it  so ;  I  already  know  it,  but  there  will  be  found  others,  more  powerful  than 
we  are,  who  may  retaliate."  On  departing  with  their  prey,  those  robbers 
went  towards  the  house  of  a  peasant  or  farmer,  from  whom  they  took  forty 
measures  of  corn.  These  were  put  on  the  four  horses  and  on  their  own 
shoulders.  Afterwards,  they  proceeded,  as  they  thought,  to  their  homes. 
Yet,  the  Almighty  had  decreed,  that  the  thieves  should  retrace  their  course 
towards  that  granary  belonging  to  the  nuns.  Having  deposited  their  booty, 
they  retired  to  rest  in  a  corner  of  the  barn.  On  the  following  morning,  the 
persons,  who  had  experienced  a  loss  of  their  corn,  setting  out  on  the  tracks 
of  those  thieves  and  of  the  previously-stolen  horses,  came  in  chase  to  St. 
Brigid's  dwelling-place.  They  declared  their  reason  for  coming,  and  ex- 
plained about  certain  indications,  which  led  them  to  suppose,  they  had  fol- 
lowed in  a  right  direction.  They  also  requested  our  abbess  to  give  them 
whatever  information  she  could  furnish  regarding  this  matter.  The  holy 
virgin  then  went  to  that  granary,  where  she  found  the  robbers  sleeping. 
Having  awakened  them,  she  asked  why  they  had  dared  to  bring  their  booty 
thither,  when  they  replied,  in  fear  and  amazement,  that  they  had  been  under 
an  impression  they  returned  to  and  slept  in  their  own  homes.s"  Afterwards, 
St.  Brigid  sent  a  message  to  St.  Patrick,  who  was  not  far  distant  from  that 
place,  with  a  request  that  he  would  come  and  release  those  robbers.  The 
holy  prelate  immediately  came  to  our  saint.  Having  ransomed  them,  they 
repented,  and  sought  to  atone  for  their  crimes,  by  offering  that  corn  they 
had  taken  to  St.  Brigid  and  to  her  nuns,  being  convinced,  such  restitution 
should  be  acceptable  to  God.53  By  the  occurrence  of  this  miracle,  St. 
Brigid's  fame  was  greatly  diffused,  through  this  particular  district  of  country.s* 
While  St.  Brigid,  with  some  of  her  nuns,  was  one  day  seated  near  Armagh 
city,  two  men  approached,  bearing  water  in  an  uncovered  wooden  vessel.ss 
On  coming  towards  the  holy  abbess,  they  entreated  her  to  bless  this  water. 
With  their  request  she  complied,  and  she  also  blessed  themselves,  at  the 


and  glands  ;  but,  it  is  much  more  virulent  trated.     See  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 

and    contagious    in  warm    climates.      See  lix.,  p.  533,     Ibid. 

Dr.  Robert  Thomas'  *'  Modern   Practice  of  "  We  are   not    informed,    whether    our 

Physic,"  &c.     Article,   Lepra  or  Leprosy,  saint  received  this  offering,  which  she  could 

pp.  729,  730.     London  :  1834.  8vo.  Tenth  only  have  accepted  right<ully,  with  consent 

edition.  of  the  real  owner  ot  the  corn  stolen. 

5=*  See   Colgan's    "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  54  it  is  probable,  the  unfinished  portion  of 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxviii.,  our  saint's  Sixth  Life,  as  found  in  the  Bar- 

xxix.,    p.   554.     In  another  of  our  saint's  barini  MS.,  had  reference  also  to  this  miracle, 

lives,  it  is  said,  that  a  deficiency  of  corn  ex-  See  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidce,  sec.  Ixv.,  p.  596. 

isted  at  the  time  of  this  robbery,   that  the  Ibid. 

grain   taken   had   been  winnowed,  and  in-  55  See  Abbate  Certani's  "  La  Santiti  Pro- 
tended for  seed,   and   that  the   thieves  en-  digiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigidalbernese."  Libro 
tered,  not  a  barn,  but  a  small  hut,  to  sleep  Quinto,  pp.  340,  341. 
there,  alter  this  robbery  had  been  perpe- 


iio  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAIMTS         [February  i. 


same  time.  Departing  from  her,  it  happened,  that  vessel  containing  water 
fell  on  its  side,  and  not  only  did  it  remain  unbroken,  but  not  even  one 
drop  of  its  contents  spilled  through  the  aperture.  ^^  This  remarkable  cir- 
cumstance was  attributed  to  the  efficacy  of  St.  Brigid's  prayers.  When  St. 
Patrick  had  been  informed  regarding  such  an  occurrence,  he  grdered  a  part 
of  the  water  contained  in  that  vessel  to  be  divided  among  particular 
churches  about  Armagh,57  and  to  be  used  in  the  Eucharistic  sacrifices^ 
Another  portion  he  desired  should  be  sprinkled  on  the  fields,  to  make  them 
productive.59  His  orders  were  obeyed,  and  many,  who  had  been  benefited 
by  this  distribution,  gave  thanks  to  God  and  to  his  glorious  servant,  St. 
Brigid.^ 

A  certain  wealthy  and  good  nobleman  lived  in  the  plain  of  Macha.^^ 
He  suffered  greatly  from  disease  and  a  pestilence,  which  baffled  the  skill  of 
physicians.  At  last  he  sent  to  St.  Brigid,  requesting  a  visit  from  her ;  and, 
while  approaching  the  house,  which  she  saw  at  a  distance,  our  holy  virgin 
declared,  that  from  whatever  quarter  the  wind  blew,  it  should  bring  calamity 
and  disease  on  the  master  of  that  dwelling. ^^  When  this  was  told  the  noble- 
man, he  was  surprised,  and  declared  he  did  not  know  why  he  should  incur 
such  a  judgment,  as  he  had  done  evil  to  no  person.  Then  his  herd  re- 
plied, by  stating,  it  had  been  rumoured,  that  all  wayfarers  without  exception 
were  in  the  habit  of  cursing  this  nobleman,  because  he  had  allowed  his 
husbandmen  to  enclose  certain  fields,  with  hedges,^3  which  had  the  effect  of 
making  an  adjoining  highway  impassable,  owing  to  their  thorny  obstructions. 
When  St.  Brigid  heard  of  this,  she  declared  it  was  the  cause  of  his  misfor- 
tune. Wherefore,  that  nobleman  gave  orders  to  restore  the  highway  to  its 
former  unincumbered  state.  Afterwards,  all  passengers  bestowed  their  bless- 
ings on  him.  He  was  also  relieved  from  his  infirmities,  through  the  prayers 
of  St.  Brigid,  to  whom,  and  to  the  Almighty,  he  offered  humble  acknow- 
ledgments-^-^ 

To  the  pious  abbess,  among  other  gifts,  was  accorded  the  spirit  of  pro- 
phecy.^5    We  are  told,  while  St.  Patrick,  on  a  certain  day,  preached  the 

s<5  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  depressions  and  eminences,  highly  cultivated 

St.  Brigid,  it  is  said  to  have  rolled  from  the  and  improved  by  art. 

door  of  the  Rathto  Lochlaphain,  pp.  29,30.  ''^  This  account,   with  his  usual  classical 

57  And  throughout  Airthiria  (Orior)  is  illustrations,  is  also  to  be  found  elaborated 
added  in  Professor  O'Looney's  MS.     Ibid.  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  San- 

58  "  Ut  ad  Eucharistiam  sanguinis  Christi  tit^  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 
mitteretur,"  &c.,  are  ihe  words  used  in  our  nese."  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  334  to  338. 
saint's  Third  and  Fourth  Lives.  They  show  ^^  This  passage  indicates  early  Irish  agri- 
how  early  in  Ireland  was  the  practice  of  cultural  improvements,  in  fencing  landed 
mingling  some  drops  of  water  with  wine  property.  These  probably,  in  many  in- 
used  at  Mass,  thus  according  with  the  pre-  stances,  should  favourably  compare  with  the 
sent  Roman  rite.  present   state  of  landed  proprietors'  efforts 

59  We  are  told,  moreover,  that  it  cured  in  Ireland.  Much  more  should  have  been 
every  disease  and  distemper  that  was  in  the  done  to  trim  hedges  and  secure  fields  in  an 
country.  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  ornamental  manner.  By  planting  trees  more 
of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  29,  30.  generally  and  by  building  commodious  and 

^See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  handsome  dwellings  for  farmers  and  cot- 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxii.,  tiers,  the  natural  features  of  our  landscapes 
PP- 554>  555-  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigid ae,  cap.  might  be  rendered  far  more  picturesque, 
Ixii.,  p.  534.     Ibiii.  while  social  order  and  happiness  should  be 

*'In    one  reading,    Colgan    found    **in  increased, 

campo   Mancho,    which   he  amends  in  the  ^*  See    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga," 

following  comment,  "rectius  yJ/o^/^<7."    This  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxi., 

was  a  plain  extending  round  Armagh,  called  p.  554.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Ixi., 

in  Irish,  Magh,  Macha,  n.  34,  p.  543.  This  p.  534.     Ibid. 

plain  now— if  it  can  be  so  called — presents  ^5  Bishop   De   Burgo's   "  Officia   Propriil 

charmingly  diversified  sylvan   and  pastoral  Sanctorum  Hibernian."     In  Festo  S.   Bri* 

prospects,  with  delightful  rolling  surfaces,  gidse  Officium,     Lect.  vi.,  p.  13. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


lit 


word  of  God,  in  the  province  of  Ulster,  and  while  the  pearl  of  Ireland^^ 
formed  one  of  a  numerous  concourse  of  persons  present,  the  whole  multi- 
tude saw  a  cloud  of  surpassing  brightness  descending  from  the  heavens  to- 
wards the  earth.^7  This  luminous  meteor  rested  over  a  place,  adjoining  that 
in  which  the  congregation  had  been  assembled.  Afterwards,  this  bright 
meteor  drifted  towards  the  citadel  or  Dun  of  Leathglass.^^  This  remarkable 
Dun  is  still  a  prominent  object  near  Downpatrick.'^s  Having  continued 
there  for  a  considerable  time,  it  finally  disappeared.     The  congregation  pre- 


^  Thus  is  St.  Brigid  poetically  styled  by 
Jocelyn,  who  relates  these  incidents.  See 
Colgan's  *'  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Sexta 
VitaS.  Patricii,  cap.  clxxxviii.,  clxxxix.,  p. 
107. 

^  The  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  thus 
writes  : — ' '  Staua  egli  non  lungi  alia  sua 
Canonica  Saballense  discorrendo  delle 
bellezze  del  Paradiso,  alle  quali  di  gia  s'ap- 
prossimaua,  quando  si  vide  vn  Globe  grande 
di  luminosissima  luce  fermarsi  sul  cimitero, 
que  staua  poco  lungi  allaCitta  di  Duno." — 
*'  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibemese."     Libro  Quarto,  p.  328. 

^*  "  Ubi  sepultus  est  ipse  Sanctus  Patri- 
cius,  Beata  Brigida  et  reliquse  Beatissimi 
Abbatis  Columbae  post  multos  annos  collo- 
catse  in  sepulchro,"  will  be  found  inserted 
between  brackets,  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  St. 
Brigid,  where  an  account  of  these  events 
is  given.  The  site  of  the  citadel  here  men- 
tioned was  known  as  Dun  da  leth-glas,  by 
the  ancient  inhabitants  of  our  island,  or  as 
contracted  into  Dun,  now  Anglicized  Down. 
In  Latin  it  is  called  Dunum.  It  is  now  a 
city  and  an  episcopal  see,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Ulster.  At  a  period  long  subse- 
quent to  their  several  deaths,  the  relics  of 
Saints  Patrick,  Brigid,  and  Columkille  were 
preserved  in  Down.  This  incidental  pas- 
sage— already  quoted  from  the  Fourth  Life 
of  our  saint— shows  that  the  writer  of  this 
treatise  must  have  written  it,  subsequent  to 
A.D.  823,  when,  according  to  Dr.  O'Dono- 
van's  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters," 
"Blathmac,  son  of  Flann,  received  the 
crown  of  martyrdom,  for  he  was  killed  by 
the  foreigners  at  I  Coluim-Cille,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
436,  437.  At  that  date,  St.  Columkille's 
relics  were  kept  at  lona,  off  Albanian  Sco- 
tia's coast,  as  Walafrid  Strabo,  a  contempo- 
raneous writer,  relates,  in  his  account  of  St. 
Blathmac's  martyrdom,  in  these  lines  : — 

**  Et  reliquis  rabida  sociis  feritate  peremptis, 
Ad  sanctum  venere  patrem,  pretiosa  me- 

talla 
Redere  cogentes,  quels  sancta  Columbae 
Ossa  jacent ;  quam  quippe  suis  de  sedi- 

bus  arcam 
Tollentes  tumulo  terra  posuere  cavato 
Cespite  sub  denso,   gnari  jam  pestis  ini- 

quae." 

At  the  time  of  St.  Blathmaic's  martyrdom. 


according  to  authors  worthy  of  credit,  the 
whole  of  Britain,  and  especially  the  He- 
brides, suffered  from  the  frequent  incur- 
sions of  Danes  and  other  Pagans,  and  for 
nearly  two  hundred  years  subsequently  Dub- 
lin had  been  occupied  by  the  Northmen, 
A.  D.  840,  while  they  made  frequent  inroads 
into  other  parts  of  our  island,  especially 
upon  Leinster,  burning  and  devastating  va- 
rious places  where  they  came.  Kildare  is 
mentioned,  as  having  been  spoiled  by  them, 
A.D.  835,  while  Kethernus,  prior  in  this 
city,  with  many  others,  had  been  put  to 
death,  A.D.  843.  Wherefore,  Colgan  thinks 
it  fair  to  conjecture,  although  he  could  not 
pronounce  with  certainty,  that  St.  Brigid's 
sacred  relics  had  been  transferred  from  Kil- 
dare, while  those  of  St.  Columkille  had 
been  removed  from  lona  Island  to  Down, 
before  or  about  the  middle  of  the  ninth  cen- 
tury. This  he  considers  a  more  probable 
opinion,  because  no  other  period  for  this 
translation  can  be  pointed  to  as  more  op- 
portune, and  because,  at  that  time,  it  is  not 
a  little  remarkable,  that  one  and  the  same 
abbot  presided  over  the  monasteries  of  Kil- 
dare and  lona,  while  it  is  probable,  he  con- 
ceived a  desire  of  having  those  sacred  trea- 
sures, which  had  been  committed  to  his 
charge,  removed  to  a  safer  place,  owing  to 
the  frequently-recurring  ravages  of  infidels. 
The  Ulster  province  was  then  considered 
more  secure  than  any  other  part  of  Ireland, 
as  Niall  Cuille,  King  of  Ireland,  was  sta- 
tioned there,  with  his  forces.  At  the  year 
863,  in  Dr.  O'Douovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  it  is  recorded,  that  "  Ceal- 
lach,  son  of  Ailill,  Abbot  of  Cill-dara,  and 
the  Abbot  of  la,  died  in  Pictland,"  vol.  i., 
pp.  500,  501.  He  appears  to  have  sue* 
ceeded  Sedulius,  Abbot  of  Kildare,  who 
died  in  828,  since  we  read  of  no  other  Abbot 
of  Kildare  that  lived  there  as  an  interme- 
diary. This  he  undertook  to  prove  in  Ap- 
pendix V.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  n.  30,  p.  543. 
Also,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  nn.  13,  14, 
pp.  565,  566,  ibid.  Also,  Dr.  O'Donovan's 
"  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
460,  461,  and  nn.  (f,  g),  pp.  452,  453,  and 
n.  (p),  pp.  466,  467,  with  pp.  442,  443, 

^  The  ancient  Dun  Keltair  at  this  place 
is  composed  of  three  great  earthen  ramparts, 
with  as  many  intervening  trenches.  These 
were  covered  with  a  growth  of  furze,  briars, 


112 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.         [February  i. 


sent  would  not  dare  to  inquire,  from  their  venerated  Apostle,  the  meaning  of 
this  portent ;  but,  they  applied  for  a  solution  of  it,  from  the  holy  virgin, 
Brigid.  She  told  them  to  ask  their  common  father,  St.  Patrick,  for  an  ex- 
planation. The  latter  replied  to  her :  "  You  and  I  are  equals,  therefore 
explain  this  mystery  to  the  people."7o  St.  Brigid  then  spoke  to  the  assem- 
bla^^e ;  she  told  them,  that  apparition  indicated  St.  Patrick's  spirit,  which 
went,  as  it  were,  before  to  visit  the  place  where  his  body  should  be  interred 
after  his  death.7^  "  For,"  said  she,  "  where  this  meteor  first  rested  near  us, 
there  shall  the  body  of  our  holy  patron  lie  unburied  for  some  days,7»  and 
thence  shall  it  be  brought,  and  be  interred  in  Leathglaisse  Dun,73  where  it 
shall  remain  to  the  day  of  judgment.''74  Holy  Patrick  then  requested  our 
saint  to  make  with  her  own  hands  that  shroud,  in  which  his  body  should  be 
wrapped  after  death,  and  he  expressed  a  desire  to  arise  from  the  grave, 
clothed  with  it,  to  receive  his  eternal  reward.  This  request  our  holy  virgin 
promised  should  be  complied  with,  and  she  also  predicted  to  St.  Patrick, 
that  he  with  herself  and  the  celebrated  St.  Columkille,  another  great  Irish 
apostle,  not  then  born,  should  arise  for  judgment,  from  this  same  tomb. 75 
The  body  of  Ireland's  illustrious  Apostle  was  afterwards  wrapped  in  that 
shroud  then  promised  him  by  St.  Brigid.  On  hearing  this  colloquy  and  pre- 
diction, the  crowd  assembled  praised  Almighty  God.76 

Subsequently,  as  we  are  told,  having  obtained  permission  from  the  holy 
Archbishop  Patrick  for  a  return  to  her  own  part  of  the  country,  St.  Brigid 
travelled  over  a  plain  called  Breagh,  within  the  Meathian  territory.  While 
she  dwelt  there  at  a  certain  cell,  it  would  seem  the  wife,  probably  of  Fer- 
gus,77  the  son  of  Conall  Crimthann,  who  was  son  to  Niall,  King  of  Ireland,7^ 


sloe  and  hawthorn  bushes,  when  visited  by 
the  writer  in  May,  1874.  The  whole  is 
surrounded  with  marshy  meadows,  re- 
claimed from  the  waters  of  Lough  Strang- 
ford. 

70 See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  vii.,  p.  88. 

7'  In  a  note,  on  this  passage,  Colgan  ob- 
serves, the  meaning  does  not  appear  to  be, 
that  St.  Patrick  s  soul,  not  yet  departed 
from  his  body,  actually  came  to  the  place 
of  his  future  interment,  but  that  the  meteor 
represented  it,  and  the  place  lor  its  future 
burial.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 
Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  n.  32,  p.  543. 

72  See  ibid.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  n. 
15,  p.  566. 

^^  At  this  present  time,  in  the  small  and 
greatly  crowded  cemetery  of  JJownpatrick, 
beside  the  old  cathedral,  a  hole  has  been 
opened  over  one  of  the  graves,  which  is 
supposed  by  the  people  to  have  been  the 
spot,  where  St.  Patrick's  body  had  been  in- 
terred. Under  this  impression,  the  Catho- 
lics of  the  town  and  neighbourhood  fre- 
quently remove  small  quantities  of  earth. 
Even  pilgrims  from  the  most  distant  parts 
of  the  world  obtain  portions,  which  they 
carry  away  as  souvenirs  of  Ireland's  great 
Apostle. 

7*  The  author  of  St.  Tatrick's  Fourth 
Life  appears  to  insinuate,  in  this  particular 
place,  what  is  asserted  by  Probus,  in  his 
iafe  of  St.  Patrick,  lib.  ii.,  and  also  by 


Joceline,  cap.  189,  viz.,  that  St.  Patrick  died 
in  the  monastery  of  Saul,  and  that  his  body 
afterwards  had  been  interred  in  the  city  of 
Down.  Joceline  also  adds,  cap.  193,  that 
the  Irish  Apostle  s  body  remained  twelve 
days  unburied  at  the  former  place,  before  it 
was  brought  to  Down,  on  account  of  a  con- 
test that  took  place  between  the  Armagh 
and  Down  people,  who  respectively  con- 
tended for  the  possession  of  his  remains. 

75  See  ibid.,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib. 
ii.,  cap.  XXX.,  p,  554.  Also,  Vita  I'ertia  S. 
Brigidoe,  cap.  Ix.,  pp.  533,  534.  This  latter 
chapter  concludes  the  account  regarding  this 
linen  shroud  by  an  observation,  "in  loco 
constat."  On  this  passage,  Colgan  has  a 
note,  where  it  is  observed,  that  the  author 
of  the  Third  Life  must  have  flourished  at  a 
very  early  period  ;  for,  the  linen  shroud  in 
question  does  not  seem  to  have  been  in  ex- 
istence, for  several  ages,  previous  to  the 
seventeenth  century.     Ib/d.,  n.  33,  p,  543. 

T^  To  these  foregoing  circumstances,  some 
allusion  seems  to  be  made,  and  with  a  suffi- 
cient amount  of  poetical  licence,  in  Vita 
Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  sees,  xlvi.,  xlviii.,  pp. 
592,  593.     Jbid. 

77  This  son  to  King  Conall,  who  is  said 
to  have  dwelt  in  the  plain  of  Breagh,  and 
whose  posterity  had  been  addicted  to  vio- 
lence and  bloodshed,  during  a  period  they 
ruled  over  the  kingdom,  can  be  no  other 
than  Ferguss,  surnamed  Kerrbheoil. 

78  Niall  the  Great  had  two  sons,  both  of 


February  i.]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


"3 


visited  her,  to  entreat  her  intercession.  The  noble-born  woman,  in  question, 
brought  a  silver  vessel,  as  a  gift  for  our  saint.  Brigid  sent  one  of  her  nuns 
to  wait  upon  that  distinguished  visitor,  who  stood  without  the  door.  For 
some  cause,  the  holy  abbess  herself  did  not  wish  to  appear. 79  The  nun 
soon  returned,  asking  why  her  superioress  would  not  see  the  queen  and 
pray  to  God  for  her,  that  thus  she  might  obtain  the  object  desired  by  the 
royal  visitor,  and  more  especially,  as  the  holy  virgin  had  often  asked  for 
like  favours,  on  behalf  of  peasants'  wives.  The  saint  of  God  replied,  that 
with  few  exceptions,  the  poor  and  rustics  serve  Almighty  God,  and  pray  to 
Him ;  whilst,  only  in  it'ff  instances,  is  it  found,  that  the  children  of  kings 
are  not  malicious,  sons  of  blood,  and  libertines.  However,  the  queen 
appears  to  have  obtained  the  favour  she  sought,  through  the  intervention  of 
our  holy  abbess.  To  her  prayers  is  attributed  the  birth  of  Diermit,^°  son  to 
Fergus,^^  and  afterwards  supreme  Monarch  of  Ireland.^^'  In  granting  her 
request,  however,  our  saint  told  the  nun,  that  the  queen's  posterity  must 
needs  be  addicted  to  deeds  of  bloodshed,^3  and  must  incur  malediction,  even 
although  they  should  reign  for  a  lapse  of  years.^^  The  event  corresponded 
with  our  saint's  prediction.^5 

This  illustrious  abbess  did  not  take  her  mind  or  her  attention  from  our 
Lord,  for  the  space  of  one  hour  at  any  time.  She  was  constantly  speaking 
of  Him,  and  she  was  ever  thinking  of  Him,  as  is  evident  from  her  own  life, 
and  also  from  the  life  of  St.  Brenainn,  Bishop  of  Cluain-fearta.^^  She  was 
very  hospitable,  likewise,  and  exceedingly  charitable  towards  guests  and 
needy  people.^7  Animated  with  this  kindly  and  generous  spirit  towards  her 
neighbour,  she  loved  God  to  such  a  degree,  that  her  mind  was  continually 
intent  on  His  Divine  perfections,  and  elevated  by  holy  contemplation.     One 


whom  were  called  Conall  or  Conald  ;  but, 
to  distinguish  them,  one  was  named  Conall 
Crimthann,  and  the  other  Conall  Gulban. 
In  the  time  of  St.  Brigid,  Conall  Crimthann, 
with  his  progeny,  ruled  over  the  extensive 
territories  of  Breagh  and  Meath.  Before 
St.  Brigid's  birth  or  the  arrival  of  St.  Pa- 
trick in  Ireland,  Conall  Gulban  acquired 
ample  possessions  in  Ulster.  From  him,  the 
district,  called  Tir-Connell,  derived  its 
name. 

"  This  account  is  also  very  fully  related 
in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  San- 
titi  f  rodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 
nese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  538  to  340. 

^This  Diermit  had  three  sons,  Aldus 
Slane,  Colman,  surnamed  the  Great,  and 
Colman,  the  Less.  The  sons  and  posterity 
of  these  princes,  contending  for  the  sove- 
reignty of  Meath  and  of  Ireland,  engaged 
in  devastating  wars.  In  such  internecine 
contests,  the  kings  themselves  were  fre- 
quently killed  ;  as  for  instance,  Suibhne,  son 
to  Colman  the  Less,  was  cut  off  by  Aldus 
Slane  ;  and  Conall,  son  to  the  same  Aldus, 
was  slain  by  ^nguss,  son  of  Colman  the 
Great ;  Conall,  son  of  the  aforesaid  Suibhne, 
was  put  to  death  by  the  same  Aldus  Slane  ; 
while  Moelumius  and  Colchus,  two  sons  of 
yEnguss,  son  to  Colman  the  Great,  were 
killed  by  Diermit,  son  to  Aldus  Slane. 

^'  In  the  present  case,  we  must  suppose 
Conall  Crimthainn's  son  alluded  to,  as  well 

Vol.  II. 


because  Ferguss,  son  of  the  last-named 
prince,  then  ruled  over  Breagh  territory, 
while  the  sons  of  Conall  Gulban  reigned  in 
Ultonia ;  as  also,  because  a  son  to  this 
Ferguss  was  the  famous  Diermit,  King  of 
Ireland. 

8^  When  the  writers  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts 
call  the  posterity  of  a  child,  born  through 
her  prayers,  bloody,  they  seem  to  have  had 
reference  to  these  and  like  disastrous  issues. 
See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 
Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  n.  36,  pp.  543,  544. 

^3  From  the  race  of^  both  Conalls  issued 
many  kings,  not  only  over  those  provinces, 
which  have  been  already  alluded  to, 
but  who  even  were  monarchs  over  all  Ire- 
land ;  and,  it  may  be  observed,  on  account 
of  many  wars  waged  by  them,  in  acquiring 
and  defending  their  territories,  they  deserved 
to  be  called  men  of  violence. 

^^  See  L.  Tachet  de  Barneval's  **  Histoire 
Ldgendaire  de  ITrlande,"   chap,  vi.,  p.  57. 

^sSee  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxiv., 
p.  555.  Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 
Ixiv.,  p.  534. 

8^  See  "  Acta  Sancti  Brendani."  Edited 
by  Right  Rev.  Patrick  F.  Moran,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  Ossory.  Vita  S.  Brendani,  cap. 
xvii.,  p.  17. 

«7See  "The  Martyrology  of  Donegal." 
Edited  by  Rev.  Drs.  Todd,  and  Reeves,  pp. 
34,  35- 

I 


114 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [I'ebruary  t. 


day,  a  pious  man  came  to  that  place,^^  where  Brigid  was  accustomed  to  oflfer 
her  private  devotions,  when  he  found  her  hands  extended  towards  heaven, 
in  prayer. ^9  Our  saint  was  so  entranced  in  God's  holy  presence,  that  she 
seemed  undisturbed,  in  the  least  degree,  by  shouts  of  certain  neighbouring 
villagers,  both  men  and  women.  These  'were  engaged  in  driving  away 
some  calves  from  their  dams.  On  seeing  St.  Brigid's  attention  thus  wholly 
absorbed  in  the  Divine  presence,  her  devout  visitor  was  not  willing  to  disturb 
the  course  of  her  meditations.  After  the  lapse  of  an  hour,  however,  he 
returned,  and  said  to  her  :  "  O  Saint  of  God,  have  you  not  heard  great  out- 
cries raised  in  the  hamlet  ?"  She  answered  in  the  negative.  Her  interro- 
gator then  said  :  "  What,  therefore,  hath  become  of  thy  hearing  ?"  St.  Brigid 
replied :  "  As  God  is  my  witness,  at  the  time  you  speak  of,  I  heard  and 
beheld  Masses  celebrated  in  the  city  of  Rome,9°  and  at  the  tombs  of  the 
Apostles,  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.9^  I  very  much  desire,  likewise,  that  the 
whole  Roman  ritual  and  liturgy  may  be  brought  to  me."^^  Afterwards,  St. 
Brigid  sent  prudent  men  to  Rome,93  that  thence  these  might  bring  the  same 
masses  and  ecclesiastical  rules.?*  At  Placentia95  and  elsewhere,  she  is  said 
to  have  saved  her  messengers  by  miracles?^  from  impending  death.  The 
following  legendary  account,  regarding  this  mission,  is  found  in  a  commentary, 


^  It  is  assumed  to  have  been  in  Kildare, 
by  the  Abbate  Certani,  although  it  may 
have  been  at  some  other  place. 

^  This  narrative  is  very  fully  set  forth  in 
Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  **La  Santitk 
Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 
Libro  Sesto,  pp.  472  to  479. 

9°  Colgan  remarks,  that  her  words  could 
have  been  verified  in  a  double  manner  : 
First,  either  by  supposing  St.  Brigid  to  have 
been  miraculously  present,  in  the  two  dis- 
tant cities  of  Rome  and  of  Kildare— if  that 
be  the  place  designated — at  one  and  the  same 
time  ;  or,  secondly,  by  remaining,  in  one 
place  only,  she  could  have  seen  in  spirit 
what  occurred,  in  the  other^distant  city.  He 
adds,  that  either  mode  is  possible,  and  that 
other  instances  are  to  be  found,  as  in  St. 
Anthony  of  Padua's  Acts,  which  bear  a  re- 
semblance to  what  is  here  related.  See 
**  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  Vita  S.  Bri- 
gidse,  n.  54,  p.  544. 

9*  The  author  of  her  metrical  acts  states, 
that  she  was  not  present  at  Rome  bodily, 
but  only  saw  by  a  mental  illumination  what 
took  place  in  that  city.     He  adds  : — 

"  Officium  sanctum  placuit  sibi  semper  ha- 
bendum, 

Unde  sacerdotes  Romam  transmisit  ad 
urbem. 

Sacra  adferre  nova  et  quodcumque  audi- 
verat  illic, 

Virginibus  cupiens  haic  tradere  lege  pe- 
renni. 

Libros  composites,  cantumque  et  munera 
multa 

Misit  Apostolicus  Brigidse,  concessit  ha- 
benda 

Tradidit  ilia  suis,  discendi  vertit  inusum," 
--Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  Ivi.  p.  594. 
loid^ 


9' The  meaning  of  the  Latin  words,  in 
our  saint's  lives,  seems  to  indicate,  that  St. 
Brigid  desired  to  conform  entirely  to  the 
rites,  ceremonies  and  constitutions  of  the 
Roman  Church;  wherefore,  the  Ritual  of 
Rome  and  the  Roman  order  bear  such  a  sig- 
nification. 

93  Colgan  says,  that  in  an  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  at  chapter  50,  and  in  an  old  MS., 
called  by  our  antiquaries,  "The  Book  of 
Hymns,"  in  a  commentary  to  a  certain  can- 
ticle, composed  in  praise  of  St.  Brigid,  and 
in  commentaries,  affixed  to  the  Martyrology 
of  Marianus  O'Gorman,  at  the  1st  of  Feb- 
ruary, there  are  various  particulars  given, 
regarding  the  legation  of  St.  Brigid. 

9*  See  ibid.,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib. 
ii.,  cap.  xiv.,  p.  552.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri- 
gidae,  cap.  xci.,  pp.  538,  539,  ibid.  In  the 
latter  life,  to  the  account  contained  in  the 
text,  this  following  sentence  is  added  : — 
"Item  dixit  post  aliquantum  tempus  Bri- 
gida ad  illos  viros ;  Ego  sentio  quod  qui- 
dam  commutaverunt  in  Roma  missas  post- 
quam  venistis  ab  ea.  Exite  iterum.  Et  illi 
exierunt  et  detulerunt  ut  invenerunt." 

95 This  was  an  ancient  city  of  Italy.  In 
the  first  century  of  the  Christian  era,  Silius 
Italicus  alludes  to  it,  in  this  hexameter  line: 

"  Certavit     Mutinas     quassata     Placentia 

bello." 
— **  Punicorum,"  lib.  viii.,  v.  593.  It  is 
now  called  Placenza,  on  the  River  Trebia, 
not  far  from  the  Po.  A  very  interesting  de- 
scription of  it  may  be  found,  in  Rev.  John 
Chetwode  Eustace's  "  Classical  Tour 
through  Italy,  An.  MDCCCII.,"  vol.  i.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  237  to  241. 

9^  These  Colgan  did  not  think  necessary 
to  be  related,  in  his  own  notes.  See  "  Tria9 
Thaumaturga,"  n.  55. 


I'ebruary  I.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  ti^ 


affixed  to  St.  Angus'  "Metrical  Festilogy,"  at  the  ist  of  February.  On  a 
certain  day,  as  she  could  not  undertake  the  journey  herself,  St.  Brigid  sent 
seven  of  her  disciples  to  Rome,97  that  they  might  bring  from  thence  the 
Ordo  of  St.  Peter,  or  the  Roman  Rite.  But,  on  their  return  home,  they  en- 
tirely forget  what  they  had  then  learned.  To  whom  St.  Brigid  addressed 
these  words  :  "  The  Son  of  the  Virgin  knows,  that  however  great  your  dili- 
gence had  been,  it  is  altogether  useless."  Again,  she  despatched  seven 
other  disciples,  and  with  a  hke  result.  A  third  time,  she  sent  other  mes- 
sengers, and  joined  with  them  a  certain  blind /r^/^^<?  of  her  own.  The  Al- 
mighty had  endowed  this  blind  man  with  the  singular  faculty  of  retaining 
permanently  in  his  recollection,  whatsoever  he  heard.  Being  overtaken  by 
a  storm  in  the  Iccian98  or  Tyrhene^s*  sea,  they  cast  anchor.  Alterwards,  being 
unable  to  raise  it,  the  crew  cast  lots  among  themselves,  to  determine  who 
should  commit  himself  to  the  deep  to  loose  its  fastenings.  Their  lot  fell 
upon  the  blind  man  already  mentioned.  On  diving  downwards,  he  appeared 
no  more,  until  other  sailors,  driven  by  the  same  storm,  cast  anchor  in  this 
place.  When  they  wound  it  upwards  again,  they  observed  this  blind  man 
ascending  with  their  anchor,  and  bearing  with  him  the  Ecclesiastical  Rite  or 
Ordo,  and  a  bell,  afterwards  called,  Cloc  an  mic  daill,  or  "  bell  of  the  blind 
son."  At  a  time  this  legend  was  in  vogue,  it  was  believed,  St.  Brigid's  fa- 
mily had  still  possession  ot  this  bell,'°°  and  that  they  used  a  Ritual,  called 
the  "  Ordo  Placentinus."^°^  Quaint  though  the  form  of  this  legend  may  be, 
yet  it  probably  shadows  the  substance  of  a  conviction,  that  St.  Brigid,  Hke 
her  beloved  teacher  St.  Patrick,  clung  with  fidelity  and  affection  to  the  rites 
and  practices  of  the  Roman  Church,  the  true  fountain  and  centre  of 
Christian  union. 


CHAPTER     VIII. 

ILLAND,  THE  WARRIOR  PRINCE  OF  LEINSTER— ST.  BRIGID  VISITS  HER  FATHER,  DUB- 
TACH,  AND  PROTECTS  HIS  FAMILY— FAVOURS  ACCORDED  TO  THE  HOLY  ABBESS — 
SHE  VISITS  KING  ILLAND  AND  BLESSES  HIM— THE  VICTORIES  OF  THIS  DYNAST 
OVER  HIS  ENEMIES— THE  BORUMHA  LAIGHEAN — WARS  THROUGHOUT  IRELAND 
DURING  ST.  brigid's  LIFETIME— DEATH  OF  KING  ILLAND— VICTORY  OBTAINED 
AFTER  HIS  DEATH  BY  THE  LAGENIANS,  THROUGH  THE  SPECIAL  PROTECTION  OF 
ST.    BRIGID. 

Again  must  we  regard  St.  Brigid  as  having  returned  to  Leinster,  where  the  chief 
actions  of  her  religious  life  took  place.     Soon  after  the  death  of  Crimthann,^ 

97  Very  numerous  views  of  this  city  by  conserua  quel  libro  col  campanello  nel  Mo- 

Piranesi  are  engraved  in  R.  Venuti's  *'  Ac-  nasterio  Killdariense   chiamandosi  da  tutti 

curata  e  Succinta  Descrizione  Topografica  e  Cloc-an-Mic-Daill,  cioe  Campana  del  figlio 

Istorica  di  Roma  Moderna,"  published  in  cieco." — "La    Santit^ Prodigiosa.    Vita  di 

four  4to  vols.     Roma,  A.D.  1766.  S.  Brigida  Ibemese."  Libro  Sesto,  p.  478. 

^  The   Iccius   Portus  of  Ptolemy  is  sup-  '°^  The  account  adds  that  Placentia  -was  a 

posed  to  be  Calais  in  Picardy  ;  so  that  the  city  near  the  Iccian,  or  more  correctly  the 

sea  between  that  port  of  France  and  Dover  is  Tyrrhenian  Sea,  and  that  there  St,  Brigid  vtras 

usually  distinguished  as  the  "  Iccium  Mare."  venerated.     See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Ihauma- 

99  This  was  called  by  the  ancients  indif-  turga,"  Appendix  Secunda  ad  Acta  S.  Bri- 

ferently    ' '  Tuscum  Mare,  vel  Tyrrhenum,  gidae,  cap.  xliv.,  p.  608. 
quod  et  Infernum."     It  lies  on  the  western  Chapter    viii. — 'This    warlike    prince 

shore  of   Italy.      See  Wilkinson's  "Atlas  seems  to  have  chiefly  resided  in  Southern 

Classica."    Map  24.     Italia  Antiqua.  Leinster,  for  we  are   told,   that  he  warred 

'°° The  Abbate  Certani  says:— "  Si  con-  with  and  subdued  the   Northern  Leinster- 

seru6  lunghissimo  tempo,  e  forse  ancora  si  men.    After  the  death  of  OilioU  Molt,  he 


ii6  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  ebruary  i. 


the  son  of  Enna  Kinsellagh,  while  Finnchadh,'*  and  afterwards  his  son 
Fraech,3  ruled  in  that  territory,  the  star  of  lolland  or  Illand*  appears  to 
have  been  in  the  ascendant,  throughout  the  province.  This  enterprising 
hero  was  the  son  of  Dunlaing,5  who  preceded  him  in  the  government,  at 
least  of  its  northern  division.  Illand  and  his  brother  Ailill^  received  bap- 
tism at  the  hands  of  St.  Patrick.7  After  St.  Brigid  had  taken  possession  of 
Kildare,  as  may  be  inferred  from  accounts  left  us  in  her  acts,  that  religious 
daughter  paid  a  visit  to  the  house  of  her  father,  Dubtach,  after  a  long  inter- 
val of  absence  from  her  parents,^  Her  father  and  all  her  relatives  greatly 
rejoiced  at  her  arrival.  No  mention  is  made  of  her  mother  as  then  living.9 
Dubtach  earnestly  desired  her  to  remain  that  night  under  his  roof.  With 
this  request  she  complied.  During  her  sleep,  an  angel  sent  from  God  ap- 
peared to  her.  Then  awaking,  she  heard  these  words  addressed  to  her : 
"Arise  immediately,  and  arouse  your  father,  with  his  whole  family,  and 
your  religious  daughters,  now  sleeping ;  for,  with  an  intention  of  murdering 
your  father  and  his  household,  an  enemy  approaches.  But,  the  Lord  will 
prevent  such  intention,  on  your  account.  Depart  instantly  from  this  house, 
for  the  foe  will  soon  set  it  on  fire."  Our  saint  obeyed  this  portentous  man- 
date, and  warning  the  inmates,  these  fled.  On  approaching,  their  enemy 
was  greatly  disappointed,  not  finding  any  of  the  family  present.  Dubtach 
and  others,  on  seeing  the  house  blazing  at  a  distance,  cried  out :  "  O  holy 
Brigid,  thy  blessing  hath  preserved  us  this  night  from  impending  death.  We 
are  now  conscious  of  all  those  wonderful  things  predicted  concerning  thee." 
Our  saint  repUed  :  "  Not  only  on  this  night,  but  so  long  as  you  live,  blood 
shall  not  be  shed  within  your  dwelling."  This  prediction  proved  true  on  a 
subsequent  occasion,  for  when  a  certain  man  intended  to  strike  a  woman 
there,  his  hand  became  stiff  as  he  tried  to  extend  it.  Nor  could  he  draw  it 
back,  until  he  had  abandoned  that  wicked  intention.^" 

The  following  day,  one  of  her  spiritual  daughters  said  to  our  saint :  "  I 
pray,  that  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  may  always  assist  you,  as  he  has  done 

was  even  regarded  as  King  of  Ireland  for  Also,  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 

a  time,  if  we  are  to  credit  a  statement  con-  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  n.  5,  p.  564. 

tained  in  the  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap,  xix.,  p.  s  Hence,  he  is  usually  called  Illand,  Mac 

460,     See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hi-  Dunking,  or  Illand,  son  of  Dunking,  in  the 

berniae,"  v.  Martii.  Irish  Annals.   He  seems  to  have  commenced 

^  At  the  battle  of  Graine  or  Grane,  in  the  his  rule  over  Leinster,  about  A.  D.  486. 

north   of  Kildare,  this  lord  of  Hy-Kinnsel-  ^  Both  brothers  were  probably  very  young 

lach  fell,  A.D.  480,  according  to  Dr.  O'Do-  men,  vv'hen  St.  Patrick  came  to  their  father, 

novan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  Dunking,  then  living  on  the  Dun,  at  Naas. 

i.,  pp.    150,   151.     Eochaidh  Mac  Coirpre  7  When  the  Irish  Apostle  visited  Naas,  on 

was   the  victor,  in  this  battle,  which  was  his  way  to  Munster.     See  Colgan's  "Trias 

among  the  Lagenians  themselves,  A.D.  484,  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  VitaS.  Patricii,  cap. 

according  to  the   '*  Chronicum  Scotorum,"  Iviii.,  p.  25  and  n.  52,  p.  32.    Also  Septima 

edited  by  William  M.  Hennessy,  pp.  30,  31.  Vita  S.  Patricii,  Pars  iii.,  cap,  xvi,,  p.  151. 

3  He  fell,  however,  in  the  second  battle  of  Also,  Miss  Mary  F.  Cusack's   "Life  of  St. 

Graine,  fought  A.D.  492,    Eochaidh,  son  of  Patrick,    Apostle   of  Ireland,"      The  Irish 

Coirpre,  being  the  victor.    See  "  Chronicum  Tripartite  Life,    translated   by  William  M. 

Scotorum,"  edited  by  William  M.  Hennessy,  Hennessy,  part  iii.,  p.  458. 

pp.  32,  33.  8  Ti^g  following  account  is  given,  at  great 

^  He  is  regarded  as  the  fifth  Christian  king  length,    in  Abbate   D,    Giacomo   Certani's 

of  Leinster.      This   would   appear  from   a  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.    Bri- 

Catalogue  of  Kings,  belonging  to  that  pro-  gida  Ibernese."     Libro   Sesto,  pp.  456  to 

vince.      According  to  that  catalogue,  and  463. 

other  authorities,  he  reigned  30  years.  Thus  »  See  "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

his  death  is  found  recorded  :  "The  age  of  Irish  Priest,  chap,  v.,  p.  58. 

Christ  506.     The  third  year  of  Muirchear-  '°  The  foregoing  accounts  are  also  sub- 

tach.  Ilknn,  son  of  Dunking,  King  of  Lein-  stantially  contained  in   the   Vita   Sexta  S. 

ster,  died."    See  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  Brigidae,  sec.   liii.,  pp.  593,   594.     "Trias 

the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.   164,  165.  Thaumaturga." 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  117 


during  the  past  night,  by  the  liberation  of  yourself,  your  father  and  his  fa- 
mily." To  whom  the  spouse  of  Christ  returned  for  answer  : — "  Not  only  dur- 
ing this  night,  but  in  every  age,  I  shall  have  the  Lord's  assistance,  in  all  things, 
through  the  ministry  of  His  angels."  For  daily  do  I  experience  a  great  joy 
of  spirit,  while  I  hear,  through  Divine  inspiration,  holy  songs,"  spiritual 
canticles,  and  strains  of  heavenly  organs. ^3  I  am  also  able  to  hear  every 
day  those  sacred  Masses,  which  are  offered  in  honour  of  the  Almighty,  in 
distant  parts  of  the  world,  in  like  manner,  as  if  I  were  present  at  their  cele- 
bration ;'*  while,  the  angels  of  God  present  my  prayers  to  Heaven  day  and 
night.  Wherever  I  am,  the  Lord  always  hears  me,  as  I  wilt  show  by  the 
two  following  incidents.  ^5  On  a  particular  occasion,  a  certain  woman,  who 
was  a  leper  and  infirm,  asked  me  to  bring  her  water,  and  to  perform  some 
other  charitable  offices,  in  her  necessities.  Whereupon,  I  blessed  the 
vessel,  which  was  filled  with  water,  and  presented  it,  telling  her  to  place 
that  vessel  between  herself  and  the  wall,  so  that  no  other  person  should  be 
able  to  touch  it,  until  her  return.  But,  in  my  presence,  the  Angel  of  the 
Lord  blessed  that  water,  and  it  was  turned  into  whatever  kind  of  liquid  that 
leper  desired  ;  thus,  it  had  the  taste  of  honey,  when  this  was  wished  for,  and 
again  the  taste  of  wine,  of  beer,  of  milk,  or  of  any  other  liquid,  that  infirm  woman 
especially  required.  Again,  when  I  was  a  little  girl,  I  fashioned  an  altar-stone 
in  honour  of  my  God,  yet  with  child-like  intent.  Then,  an  Angel  of  the 
Almighty,  in  my  presence,  perforated  the  stone  at  its  four  angles,  and  placed 
at  each  of  them  four  wooden  feet.'^  That  you  may  glorify  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  have  mentioned,  O  daughter,  these  two  interpositions  of  my  Angel 
Guardian.     Thus,  the  grace  of  God  hath  always  continued  with  me."'7 

Already  had  the  saintly  daughter  secured  the  respect  of  her  dynast  so- 
vereign and  protector  Illand,'^  son  of  Dunlaing.  During  this  visit  of  the 
Brigid,  her  father  Dubtach  said  to  her  :  "  O  pious  maid,  go  to  our  king,  and 
ask  him  to  give  me  as  a  valuable  and  perpetual  gift,  that  sword  which  he  lent 
me  for  a  time. '''9  In  compliance  with  the  request  of  her  father,  the  dutiful 
Brigid  set  out  on  a  visit  to  the  Leinster  king,  who  then  dwelt  in  the  plain 
of  the  Liffey.^°    When  our  saint  rested  before  the  gate  of  the  regal  city, 

"See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  lunque  parte  del  Cattolico  Hondo."— "La 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  v.,  pp.  59,  60.  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 

"In  the  Vita   Sexta  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  li.,  nese,"  Libro  Sesto,  p.  464. 

P-    593.  "Trias    Thaumaturga,"   we  have  'SThe  visit  to  Connaught — without  any 

the  following  lines  : —  very  good  warrant,  however — is  placed  by 

the    Irish   Priest's  "Life   of    St.   Brigid," 

♦*  Organa  dulcisono  resonant  cselestia  cantu.  after  this  visit  to  Dubtach.     See  chap,  v., 

Hoc  pueri  pariter  cantantes,  hoc  seniores,  p.  60. 

Angehci  populi  respondent,  Alleluia."  ^''See  Rev.  S.  Baring- Gould's  "Lives  of 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.     February  i.,  p.  17. 

^3  The  invention  of  organs  dates  to  are-  '^  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga," 

mote  antiquity ,  and  to  a  period  long  ante-  Vita  Quarta   S.   Brigid*,    lib.  ii.,  cap.  vi., 

cedent  to   the   Christian   era.     Bellarmine  vii.,  viii.,  ix.,  p.  551.     Nearly  the  same  ac- 

states,  that  organs  were  used  in  Church  ser-  counts  are  contained  in  the  Vita  Tertia  S. 

vices,  about  the  year6Co,  as  Platina  relates  Brigidae,  cap.  Ixxxvii.,  Ixxxviii.,  Ixxxix.,  p. 

from  the  Pontifical.     When  Pope  Vitalian  538,  ibid. 

reformed  Roman  Church  music,   he  intro-  *^  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 

duced  organs  as  instruments  for  accompani-  St.  Brigid,  pp.  30,  31,  the  King  of  Leinster, 

ment.     Other  authors  refer  their  introduc-  to  whom  the  holy  abbess  went,  is  called 

tion  in   Church  services  to  a  later  period.  Ailill,  son  of  Dunlaing.      Perhaps,  he  and 

See  the  "  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,"  vol.  his  brother  held  a  joint  sovereignty  over 

xiii.,  pp.  485  to  489.     Dublin  edition.  Leinster,  or  what  seems  more  likely,  Ailill 

**The  Abbate  D.    Giacomo  Certani  has  may  have  preceded  lUand  in  his  term  of  rule, 

it :  "  Merce  dell'  Angelo  mio  assisto  gior-  '^  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La 

nalmente  a  quanti  sacrificii  s'offrono  a  Dio  Santit^  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 

nella  Catolica  chiesa.     Ascolto,  e  veggo  le  nese,"  Libro  Sesto,  pp.  465  to  467. 

Messe,  che si  celebrano  in  Roma,  e  in  qua-  '"Most  probably  at  JNaas,   where  therq 


ii8  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


with  her  virgins,  one  of  the  king's  servants  came  to  her.  He  said,  "  If  you 
release  me  from  my  bondage  to  the  king,  both  I  and  my  family  shall  become 
your  servants  for  ever,  while  myself,  my  posterity  and  kindred  shall  likewise 
make  profession  of  Christianity."  The  holy  virgin  said,  she  should  prefer 
his  request  before  the  monarch,  into  whose  presence  she  was  soon  con- 
ducted. The  king  then  asked  the  holy  virgin  what  had  been  her  object  in 
seeking  this  interview.  She  replied,  her  father  desired  to  possess  that  sword, 
which  had  been  lent  to  him,  as  a  perpetual  gift,  whilst  on  her  own  part, 
she  petitioned  the  king  to  manumit  or  transfer  to  herself  the  slave  and  his 
family.  Then  said  the  king  :  "  You  require  from  me  a  most  precious  sword, 
O  saint,  but  what  better  favour  will  you  accord  me,  should  I  grant  both  of 
these  boons  ?"  The  holy  virgin  asked  him,  what  he  should  think  about 
obtaining  eternal  life,  and  of  having  kings  in  his  line,  to  the  end  of  time. 
The  king  then  told  her,  he  did  not  desire  that  Hfe,  of  which  he  had  yet  no 
experience,  nor  did  he  care  for  the  prosperity  of  those  children,  who  were 
destined  to  succeed  him.  But,  he  asked  for  two  other  favours.  These  were, 
that  he  should  enjoy  a  long  life,  in  this  world,  which  he  loved,  and  that  he 
should  be  a  conqueror,  in  all  his  wars.^'^  He  told  Brigid,  that  a  great  war 
was  then  pending,  between  the  people  of  Leinster  and  the  race  of  Cuinn. 
The  holy  abbess  assured  him,  that  both  those  desires  should  be  obtained, 
when  she  returned  home,  with  those  favours  she  asked  for  granted  to  her. 
Before  leaving,  she  imparted  her  blessing  to  the  kii^g.^^ 

Shortly  afterwards,  Illand  with  a  small  army,  entered  the  territories  of  his 
enemies,  who  belonged  to  the  posterity  of  Cuind.^3  Having  reached  the 
plain  of  Breagh,24  he  was  there  met  by  a  well-appointed  force.  When  he 
saw  the  number  of  men  drawn  out  to  meet  him,  the  King  of  Leinster 
called  aloud  to  his  soldiers  :  "  Stand  firm,  and  invoke  St.  Brigid's  assistance, 
for  she  will  redeem  her  promises."  With  cries  that  reached  the  heavens, 
his  whole  band  called  out  the  holy  virgin's  name,  and  immediately  com- 
menced their  onset  of  battle.  The  King  of  Leinster  had  a  glorious  vision 
of  holy  Brigid,  preceding  him  in  the  field,  and  holding  a  staff  in  her  right 
hand,  while  a  pillar  of  glittering  flame  reached  from  her  head  towards 
heaven.^5  A  sudden  panic  seized  on  the  Neill  forces.  They  immediately 
fled.  The  King  of  Leinster  and  his  victorious  army  gave  thanks  to  God 
and  to  St.  Brigid.  To  her  patronage  they  mainly  attributed  the  glory  of  this 
day.=^  This  great  victory  over  the  northern  forces  was  the  prelude  to  other 
famous  achievements.  Illand  is  said  to  have  fought  thirty  battles  in  Ireland, 
and  eight^7  or  nine^'^  in  Britain.  In  all  of  these  conflicts,  he  proved  victo- 
rious.   A  belief  entertained,  regarding  his  invincible  prowess,  caused  several 

was  formerly  a  seat  of  the  kings  of  Lein-  O'Dubhagain  and  Giolla  na  naomh  O'Hui- 

ster.      See  "The  Parliamentary  GazeUeer  dhrin."     Edited  by  Dr.  John  O'Donovan, 

of  Ireland,"  vol  iii.,  p.  3.  n.  272,  pp.  xxxvii.,  xxxviii, 

*' See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's"La  ^^^  Probably  the  plain,   known  as  Magh 

Santiti  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber-  Breacraighe,  comprising  the  northern  part 

nese,"  Libro  Sesto,  pp.  467  to  470.  of  Moygoish  barony,  in  the  county  of  West- 

"*  Some  of  the  foregoing  incidents    are  meath,    and  extending  into  the  county  of 

briefly  related  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Longford,     See  ibid.,  n.  273,  p.  xxxviii. 

Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  31,  32.  =5  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La 

=3  These  seem  to  have  been  the  O'Cuinns  Santiti  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 

or  O'Quins  of   Munter  Gillagan.      These  nese,"  Libro  Sesto,  pp.  470,  471. 

were  distributed  among  the  baronies  of  Ar-  =*See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga," 

dagh,  Moydow,  and  Shrule,   in  the  county  QuartaVita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  x.,  xi., 

of    Longford.    Although    dispossessed   by  p.  551.     Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xc, 

the  O'Farrells  in  the  fifteenth  century,  their  p.  539. 

posterity  are  yet  numerous  in  that  locality.  =7  According  to  the  Fourth  Life. 

See  "The  Topographical  Poems  of  John  '^ ^^coj-ding  to  the  Third  Life, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS 


119 


kings  to  court  his  alliance  with  large  gifts.  During  these  wars  and  rumours 
of  wars,  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns,  at  Kildare,  appear  not  to  have  been  dis- 
turbed, in  the  least,  so  far  as  the  even  current  of  a  religious  life  passed  on  ; 
nor  do  we  hear  of  hostile  clamour  awakening  that  repose,  so  grateful  to 
their  holy  inmates,  around  the  precincts  of  her  privileged  cloisters. 

The  Borumha  Laighean  or  "  Leinster  cow-tribute"='9  was  a  fruitful  source 
of  warfare  between  the  sovereigns  of  Ireland  and  the  men  of  Leinster,  not 
only  before,  but  during  and  long  after  the  lifetime  of  St.  Brigid. 3°  From 
this  irritating  cause,  probably  originated  most  of  those  petty  wars,  carried 
on  with  such  frequent  and  obstinate  persistence  for  so  many  centuries.s^  The 
renowned  warrior  King  of  Ireland,  Tuathal  Teachtmhar,32  who  is  said  to 
have  fought  no  less  than  133  battles  in  the  different  provinces,  reigned  thirty 
years,33  during  the  close  of  the  first,  and  he  was  slain  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  second  century, 34  a.d.  io6,3S  He  is  related  to  have  imposed 
the  degrading  and  oppressive  Borumha,  or  cow  tribute,  on  the  Leinster 
people.3^  During  the  reign  of  King  Cormac,37  son  of  Art,  about  a.d.  241, 
is  recorded  a  great  outrage,  perpetrated  or  permitted  by  Dunlang,  son  to 
Enna  Niadh,  King  of  Leinster.  He  appears  to  have  assaulted  the  royal 
seat  at  Tara,  and  on  the  western  slope  of  the  hill,  at  Claenfearta,3S  where 
the  apartments  for  females  had  been  erected,39  thirty  royal  maidens,4o  with 
three  hundred  women  servants,  had  been  massacred.  This  happened  on 
Saman's  day.^''  To  avenge  this  cowardly  and  cruel  act,^^  King  Cormac  ex- 
ecuted, at  the  same  time,  twelve  of  the  Leinster  chiefs,  who  were  thought 
or  proved  to  be  guilty  of  it,  while  he  increased  the  Leinster  tribute,  which 
already  was  so  very  onerous.    Yet,  this  annual  exaction  was  impolitic,  as  it 


"9  There  is  a  very  curious  Irish  tract,  in- 
tituled, "  Borumha  Laighean,"  on  the  ori- 
ginal imposition  and  final  remittance  of  this 
impost,  preserved  in  the  Book  of  Lecan. 
Another  copy  of  it  may  be  found  in  a  vellum 
manuscript,  classed  H,  2,  18,  in  the  Library. 
of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  A  copy  had 
been  prepared  for  publication  by  the  Irish 
Archaeological  Society,  but  it  has  not  yet 
issued  from  the  press. 

3°  See  Townsend  Young's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  chap,  i.,  pp.  15,  16. 

3' See  "Three  Fragments,  copied  from 
ancient  sources,"  by  Dubhaltach  Mac  Fir- 
bisigh.  Edited  by  Dr.  O'Donovan,  pp.  32 
to  35. 

32  See  an  account  of  his  reign  in  LAbbe 
Ma-Geoghegan's  "Histoire  de  I'lrlande, 
Ancienne  et  Moderne,"  tome  i.,  part  i., 
chap,  vi.,  pp.  126  to  130. 

33  Beginning  A.D.  76,  according  to  Dr. 
O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters," 
vol.  i.,  pp.  98,  99. 

34  See  a  very  interesting;  account  regarding 
the  imposition  of  the  Leinster  cow-tribute, 
during  the  reign  of  this  monarch,  in  O'Ma- 
hony's  Keating's  "  History  of  Ireland," 
book  i.,  part  i.,  chap,  vii,,  pp.  297  to  306. 

35 According  to  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "An- 
nals of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  98 
to  lOI. 

3^  This  was  done  on  account  of  an  act  of 
treachery,  perpetrated  by  a  king  of  Leinster 
towards  the  two  daughters  of  the  monarch 
Tuathal.    In  revenge,  he  devastated  Lein- 


ster, and  when  the  people  of  that  province 
had  submitted  to  him,  he  exacted  "the  fol- 
lowing Fine  or  Boroimhe,  viz.,  600  Cows, 
600  Hogs,  600  Sheep,  600  Ounces  of  Silver, 
600  Mantles,  and  600  Tun  of  Iron,  Yearly ; 
which  was  paid  during  the  Reigns  of  40 
Kings  successively  thereafter," — MacCur- 
tin's  "Brief  Discourse  in  Vindication  of  the 
Antiquity  of  Ireland,"  part  i.,  pp.  92,  93. 

37  See  a  very  full  account  of  events  chro- 
nicled under  this  monarch's  reign  in  O'Ma- 
hony's  Keating's  "  History  of  Ireland," 
book  i.,  part  i.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  328  to  360. 

3^  The  exact  position  of  this  site  will  be 
found  on  the  adynirable  map,  which  illus- 
trates '*  Monuments  of  Tara  Hill  restored 
from  Ancient  Documents."  See  "Trans- 
actions of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,"  vol. 
xviii.  Antiquities,  sec.  iii.  "On  the  His- 
tory and  Antiquities  of  Tara  Hill."  By 
George  Petrie,  Esq.,  R.H.A.,  M.R.I.A,  p. 
152.  This  most  erudite  paper  was  read  24th 
of  April,  and  8th  and  22nd  of  May,  1837. 

39  In  the  "Dinnseanchus,"  where  the  two 
Claenfearts  are  placed  to  the  west  of  Rath 
Grainne,  it  is  stated,  that  the  virgins  were 
slaughtered  in  the  Southern  Claenfeart.  See 
ibid., -p.  142. 

4°  It  has  been  supposed,  these  were  vestal 
virgins.     See  ibid.,  p.  2l8. 

4' See /^/^.,  p.  151. 

4»  Cuan  O'Lochain,  an  ancient  poet,  re- 
cords clAoinpe|\CA  tiA  clAon  cAingni, 
which  is  Englished  "The  Claenferts  of  the 
treacherous  covenant."    See  ibid.^  p.  144. 


120 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS       [February  i. 


was  unjust ;  for,  constituted  as  Ireland  had  then  been,  not  alone  difficulties 
were  experienced  in  distributing  the  assessment,  but  in  collecting  it,  at  stated 
intervals.  Still,  the  Leinstermen  were  protected  from  the  depredations  of 
their  southern  adversaries,  the  Munstermen,43  by  Cairbre  Liffeachair,'**  the 
son  of  King  Cormac.  The  tanists  and  people  of  Leinster  do  not  seem  to 
have  been  sufficiently  powerful  to  resist  effectively  the  Ard-righs  of  the  king- 
dom, until  after  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into  Ireland,'»5  when,  under  the 
leadership  of  the  renowned  Crimthan  Kinsellagh,  dynast  of  South  Leinster, 
and  of  Illand,  the  enterprising  and  valiant  dynast  of  Northern  Leinster,  the 
Lagenians  began  to  cope  with  the  last  Pagan  monarch,  Laeghaire.*^  The 
latter  potentate  appears  to  have  been  tenacious  of  his  prerogatives ;  for, 
during  his  term  of  rule,  he  inflicted  a  great  defeat  on  the  Lagenians,  towards 
the  middle  of  the  fifth  century.  The  very  year  in  which  it  has  been  sup- 
posed St.  Brigid  was  born,47  viz.  a.d.  456,  Leinster  is  said  to  have  been  de- 
vastated. Other  writers  place  this  raid  at  an  earlier  period.  Such  reverse 
seems  to  have  been  retrieved,  about  a.d.  460,  at  the  battle  of  Athdara,*^ 
fought  by  the  Leinstermen,  against  Laogaire.49  The  place  is  said  to  have 
been  in  Kildare  County. 5°  This  defeat  of  the  monarch  Laoighaire  is  re- 
ferred to  A.D.  457,5^  458,5^  459,  461,53  or  465,54  by  other  authorities. ss  It  is 
said,  that  Cremthann  was  leader  of  the  Lagenians. s^  While  some  accounts 
refer  the  death  of  King  Laeghaires?  to  a.d.  458.58  other  writers  place  it 
at  A.D.  461,  or  462,59  or  464,^°  while  another  annalist  has  it,  so  late  as  470.^^ 
The  "Annals  of  Ulster"'  refer  to  a.d.  464,  the  first  war  of  Airdacorann, 
which  was  carried  on  by  the  Lagenians,^^  while  the  battle  of  Ard-Coran^3  is 


43  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i,,  pp.  118,  119. 

^  The  events  of  his  reign  are  set  forth  in 
O'Flaherty's  "Ogygia,"  Pars,  iii.,  cap. 
Ixx.,  Ixxi.,  Ixxii.,  pp.  341  to  357. 

45  In  the  following  resumi  of  wars,  noted 
throughout  the  subsequent  epoch,  it  is  often 
difficult  to  determine  the  special  causes  that 
gave  rise  to  them.  Yet,  it  will  be  seen,  for 
the  most  part,  these  battles  were  fought 
either  on  the  northern  parts  of  Leinster,  or 
within  the  territories  of  Meath.  The  most 
vengeful  and  inveterate  raids  were  between 
the  Hy-Nialls  or  Leith  Cuinn  people,  and 
the  Lagenians  or  Leinstermen.  It  must  be 
observed,  if  our  Irish  kings  and  toparchs  ad- 
vised or  accepted  war — unlike  some  modem 
statesmen — they  were  obliged  personally  to 
assume  the  post  of  danger  as  commanders- 
in-chief,  when  their  clansmen  were  called  to 
the  field  of  slaughter. 

4*^  See  the  events  of  his  reign  chronicled 
in  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  128  to  145. 

47  According  to  the  *'  Annals  of  Inis- 
fallen." 

4*  On  the  River  Barrow.  See  Haverty's 
"  History  of  Ireland,  Ancient  and  Modem," 
chap,  ix.,  p.  74. 

49  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  "Annales 
Inisfalenses, "  p.  3. 

so  See  L'Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "His- 
toire  d'lrlande,"  tome  i.,  part  ii.,  chap,  ii., 
p.  263, 

5»  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  142,  143. 


s^The  *' Annales  Ultonienses"  place  the 
battle  of  Cath  Atha  Dara  at  this  year  or  at 
A.D.  459.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Remm 
Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  4. 

53  Ibid. 

54  See  **  Annales  Buelliani,"  or  "  Annals 
of  Boyle,"  p.  2,  tomus  ii.  Dr.  O'Conor's 
"Rerum  Hibemicarum  Scriptores." 

55  The  "Chronicum  Scotorum"  has  this 
event  at  A.d.  459.  See  W.  M.  Hennessy's 
edition,  pp.  26,  27. 

s^The  "Ulster  Annals"  make  a  third 
entry  of  this  battle,  at  A.D.  461,  where  they 
add,  we  must  suppose  regarding  the  Leinster- 
men, "  quibus  Cremthan  tunc  pre-erat." 

57  At  Greallach  Daiphil,  on  the  side  of 
Cais  in  Magh  Life,  according  to  the  "  Chror 
nicum  Scotorum,"  edited  by  William  M. 
Hennessy,  pp,  26,  27. 

5^  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  4.,  pp.  144,  145. 

59The  "Annals  of  Ulster"  have  this 
event  at  either  year,  461  and  462,  while  the 
place  is  called  Greallagh  Griaifil,  near  or 
beyond  the  territory  of  Cassie,  in  the  plain 
of  the  Liffey.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum 
Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  4. 

^The  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen"  state,  that 
at  A.  D.  464,  the  death  of  Laogire  Mac  Neill 
took  place  at  Grallach-da-ball,  between 
two  hills,  called  Hibemia  and  Albania. 
See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

^' See  the  "Annals  of  Boyle,"  at  A.D. 
470,  p.  3,  ibid. 

^'  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemi- 
camm  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  5. 

^3  This  place  has  not  been  identified. 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


121 


assigned  to  a.d.  467,  by  the  "Annals  of  Inisfallen."^*  In  the  year  464,'^s 
or  468,^^  the  Leinstermen  were  again  in  arms,  against  the  supreme  monarch. 
The  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen"  refer,  however,  to  a.d.  471,^7  that  war  of  Dumai 
Achir,^^  according  to  the  book  of  Cuanac,  which  was  carried  on  against 
Oilill  Molt,  King  of  Ireland.^9  Illand,  the  Prince  of  North  Leinster,  was 
victor  in  this  engagement. 7°  The  boxing-battle  of  Bri-Ele,  supposed  to  have 
taken  place  at  the  hill  of  Croghan,  in  the  King's  County,  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  a  very  formidable  encounter.  Probably  it  was  only  a  pugilistic 
contest,  between  certain  selected  champions  of  Leinster  and  Meath.  The 
monarch,  Oilill  Molt,  seems  to  have  been  present,  either  as  a  combatant,  or 
as  a  spectator.  Its  occurrence  is  variably  referred  to  a.d.  468,7^  473,  475, 
471,72  or  481.73  The  Irish  poet,  Gilda  Modud  of  Ardbraccan,  states,  that 
after  Oilill-Molt  had  passed  twenty  years  of  a  victorious  life,74  Lugad  the 
Strong,  and  the  son  of  Laogaire,  slew  him  by  a  most  lamentable  action.7S 
This  occurred  at  the  battle  of  Ocha,76  ^^  which  allusion  has  been  already 
made.  Under  another  form  of  name,  we  meet  with  an  account,  at  the  year 
477,77  regarding  this  battle  of  Uchbad,  which  was  fought  against  the  Lage- 
nians,  by  Crimthann,  or  by  Fiachra  garrulo,  or  "  the  garrulous,''  son  to  Coel- 
ban,  son  of  Cruinnius,  from  Dalaradia.73  At  the  year  478,79  or  at  483,^°  we 
have  an  account  regarding  the  murder  of  Crimthan,  son  to  Enna  Censelach, 
son  to  Breasal  Belac,  King  of  Leinster.     This  seems  to  be  confounded  with 


^*  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

^s  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  146,  147. 

^According  to  the  "Annals  of  Ulster," 

^  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  **  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

'"  In  English,  Aichir's  or  Heber's  Mount : 
this  place  has  not  been  identified.  See  Dr. 
O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four  Mas- 
ters," vol  i.,  n.  (1),  p.  146. 

^See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.  "  Annales 
Ultonienses"  p.  5.  The  "  Annals  of  Ul- 
ster" have  an  entry  at  A.  D.  474,  and  again 
at  A.D.  476,  as  if  the  true  date  for  this 
battle  of  Duma  Achir  were  a  matter  of 
doubt.     See  ibid.,  p.  6. 

7°  "The  Annals  of  Inisfallen."  Ibid., 
tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

7' According  to  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  An- 
nals of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
148,  149,  and  nn.  (u,  w),  ibid. 

7=^  The  "  Annals -of  Ulster"  have  it  en- 
tered at  each  of  these  three  years,  as  if 
there  were  different  authorities  for  each 
statement.  See  Dr.  Charles  O'Conor's 
••  Rerum  Hibemicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
iv.,  p.  6. 

73 The  "Annals  of  Boyle"  enter  it  at  this 
date.     See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

7*  MacCurtin  states,  that  his  reign  com- 
menced A.D.  453  and  ended  473.  See  "  A 
Brief  Discourse  in  Vindication  of  the  Anti- 
quity of  Ireland,"  part  ii.,  pp.  155,  156. 

75  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiber- 
nicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  i.  Prologo- 
mina,  pars  i.,  pp.  cxlix.,  clxvii. 

7^  This  is  supposed  to  have  been  fought 
in  Meath,  and  not  iar  from  Tara.  Lughaidh, 


son  of  Laoighaire,  too  young  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  death  to  contest  the  succession, 
seems  to  have  obtained  the  crown  by  form- 
ing a  strong  confederacy  of  provincial  kings 
and  toparclis.  See  Haverty's  ' '  History  of 
Ireland,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  75. 

77  See  the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen."  Dr. 
O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemicarum  Scrip- 
tores," tomus  ii.,  pp.  3,  4. 

7^  In  the  "  Annals  of  Ulster,"  a  notice  of 
this  battle  of  Ocha  is  entered,  under  A.D. 
482,  and  again  under  A.  D.  483,  in  that  old 
translation,  found  in  the  Clarendon  MS., 
tom.  49.  There  we  read:  "482.  Bellum 
Oche,  in  quo  cecidit  Ailill  Molt  manu  Lugh 
mic  Laogaire,  et  Muritrti  mic  Erca.  A 
Concobaro  filib  Nessa  usque  ad  Cormac filium 
Art  anni  208.  A  Cormac  usque  ad  hoc  bellum 
206,  «/Cuana  scripsit.''  And  again  :  "483. 
Ju^ulatio  Crimthain,  mac  Enna  Censelaich, 
Regis  Lagenie,  mic  Bressail  Bealaich,  mic 
Cathair  moir,  Et  hoc  anno  the  battle  [called] 
Cath  Ocha,  secundum  alios,  by  Lugad  and 
by  Murtagh  mac  Erca,  and  by  Fergus  Cer- 
vail,  mac  (vonnell  Crimthain,  and  by  Fi- 
achra Lon,  the  King  of  Dal-Araide." 

79  According  to  the  "Annals  of  Inisfal- 
len," which  have  this  statement.  A.D.  478. 
The  war  of  Granaird.  Finchad,  King  of 
Leinster  fell.  According  to  some,  Meice 
Eirce  was  the  conqueror,  but  others  state 
Coirpre  was  the  victor.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's 
"  Rerum  Hibemicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
ii.,  p.  4. 

^°  This  is  the  year  assigned  by  O'FIa- 
herty  for  the  accession  of  Lugad,  the  son  of 
Laogaire,  to  the  sovereignty  of  Ireland. 
See  "  Ogygia,"  pars  iii.,  cap.  xciii.,  p>430* 
Other  accounts  differ  as  to  date. 


122  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


the  following  entry.  At  the  year  485,  we  find  a  record  concerning  the  first 
war  of  Granearad,  in  which  Cairpre  Mac  Neill — the  ninth  hostage — was 
victor.  There  fell  Finchat,  the  son  of  Ere,  according  to  some  writers,  while 
he  was  a  victor,  in  the  opinion  of  others.^'  Again,  this  same  first  war  of 
Graine  is  entered  a  third  time,  at  a.d.  486,^^  in  the  Ulster  Annals.  During 
this  contest,  Crimthan  Censalach  received  a  deadly  wound.^3  There  he  is 
said  to  have  slain  Echadh.  Notwithstanding,  the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen," 
while  recording  such  events  at  478,  still  defer,  to  the  year  480,  the  death  of 
Crimthan  Censelach.^*  He  probably  lingered  two  years,  and  as  an  effect  of 
his  wounds  death  then  ensued.^s  in  a.d.  485,  the  war  of  Sratha-Conaill 
was  waged.  Fiach  Mac  Finchada,  King  of  Leinster,  fell  in  this  engagement, 
while  Eochu  Mac  Corpri  was  victor. ^^  Yet,  this  historical  episode  is  deferred 
to  A.D.  494,  by  the  annalist  Tigernach.^y  The  Pagan  brother  of  King  Lea- 
ghaire,  who  is  called  Cairbre,  son  to  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages,  fought  and 
won  the  battle  of  Tailteen,^^  in  East  Meath,^9  against  the  Lagenians.  Some 
accounts  have  this  battle  at  a.d.  491,  while  other  writers  enter  it,  at  a.d.  494^° 
or  495.  In  conjunction  with  his  brother  Ailill,  Eochaidh  Guineach,^^  and 
Muircheartach  Mac  Earca,92  Illand  gave  batde  to  ^ngus,  son  of  Natfraich, 
and  the  first  Christian  King  of  Munster.93  This  was  the  religious  prince 
who  had  been  baptized  by  St.  Patrick,94  at  Cashel.  The  locality  of  this 
decisive  engagement  was  in  the  plain  of  Magh-Fea,  four  miles  east  of 
Leighlin,  and  within  the  county  of  Carlow.  The  spot,  formerly  called  Cell- 
osnada,  or  Ceann-Losnada,  is  now  named  Kelliston.  Mr.  O' Donovan  says, 
that  there  exists  among  the  old  natives  of  the  place  a  most  curious  and 
remarkably  vivid  tradition  of  this  batde,  which  explains  the  Irish  name  of 
the  place  denoting  "  church  of  the  groans  f  and  which  it  received,  according 
to  this  tradition,  from  the  lamentations  of  the  Munster  women,  after  the  loss 
of  their  husbands  and  brothers  in  the  battle.95  On  the  8th  of  the  October 
Ides,  A.D.  489,96  the  King  of  Munster97  and  his  queen,  Eithne  Huathach,98 


8'  See  the   "  Annals    of   Ulster."      Dr.  edition  of  the  **  Annals  of  Tigemach,"  at 

O'Conor's    "Rerum   Hibemicarum  Scrip-  a.d.  490. 

tores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  7.  52  He  is  called   **  Alliachensis  Rex,"  or 

^"^  See  ibid.  **  King  of  Aileach,"  in  Tigernachi  Annales, 

^3  At  Granairdor  Graine.  pp.  123,  124.     See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum 

^4  See  ibid.y  tomus  ii.,  p.  4.  Hibemicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii. 

^SThe  battle  of  Graine  or  Granard  is  said  93  See  Miss  M.   F.  Cusack's  "  Illustrated 

to  have  been  fought  among  the  Leinstermen  History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  130. 

themselves.     See  Dr.  O'Donovan's    '*An-  ^4  This  narrative  is  to  be  found  in   IPetrus 

nals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.   150,  de  Natalibus,  lib.  iii.,  cap.  204,  and  in  the 

151.  Life  of  St.  Patrick,  byjoceline,  cap.  Ixxiv. 

*^See  Dr.   O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni-  's  This,  however,  though  a  very  natural  turn 

carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.    Annales  Inis-  for  tradition  to  have  given  it,  is  not  the  true 

falenses,  p.  4.  form  of  the  name  ;  folf  it  appears,  from  an 

^7  Where  he  enters,  CAch  Si\Ac'hA.  (Prse-  ancient  historical  tale,   preserved   in    "  Le- 

lium  Srathense.)     See  ?i5z^.,  p.  124.  abhar-na-h-Uidhri,"  that  it  was  first  written 

®^  A.D.  491,  according  to  the  "Chronicum  Ceann-Losnada,  which  is  also  the   form  of 

Scotorum,"  pp.  32,   33,  and  Dr.   O'Dono-  the  name  given  in  the  "  Annals  of  Ulster." 

van's  **  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"   vol.  In  the  latter  annals,  a  notice  of  this  battle 

i.,  pp.  154,  155.    The  "Annals  of  Ulster"  is  thus  entered,    "a.d.  489.  Belluni  Cinn 

place  it  at  A.d.  494,  or  495.  Losnado,  ubicecidit  A^nga?,,  Jilius  Natfraich, 

^  See  ibid.,  n.  (p).  righ  Mumhan,  ut  Guana  scripsit."     See  Dr. 

5«'The  "Annals  of  Tigemach,"  at  A.D.  O'Donovan's  work,  vol.  i,,  n.  (n),  p.  152. 

494,    enter    CAch     CAillcen.       See    Dr.  9^ In  Dr.   O'Conor's    "Rerum   Hiberai- 

O'Conor's    "Rerum   Hibemicarum  Scrip-  carum  Scriptores,"  the  Annals  of  Inisfallen 

tores,"  tomus  ii.     Tigernachi  Annales,  p.  have    the     Battle    of   Killosnat,     at  a.d. 

125.  cccCLXXXiv.     See  tomus  ii.,  p.  4.     The 

9'  This  word  is  interpreted  "  vulnerator,"  Four  Masters  and  the  Annals  of  Ulster— the 

or  the  "  wounder,"  by  Dr.  O'Conor,  in  his  latter  quote  Guana  as  authority—place  "Bel- 


February  i.]       LIVES  OI'  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


123 


fell  in  this  engagement.99  According  to  one  account,  the  chief  enemy  of 
iEngus'°°  is  said  to  have  been  Illand.'°'  A  different  narrative  has  it,  that 
Ailill  was  the  cause  of  this  slaughter, ^°^  while  some  other  statements  aver,'°3 
that  Muirchertach  Mac  Earca,  afterwards  monarch  of  Ireland,  slew  .^ngus 
at  this  battle  of  Kill-0snaidh.^°4  His  death  appears  to  have  excited  much 
sympathy  and  sorrow  ;^°5  for,  personally,  he  was  amiable  and  respected. ^°* 
Such  does  not  seem  to  have  been  the  case,  in  reference  to  his  wife ;  who, 
probably,  was  over-haughty,  and  revengeful  or  ambitious, '°7  as  she  is  re- 
presented to  have  been  intriguing  and  unscrupulous.  She  thus  obtained 
an  undesirable  surname,  "  the  hateful. ''^°2  St.  Kieran,  the  patron  saint  of 
Ossory,  is  said  to  have  predicted  the  untimely  death  of  both  herself  and  her 
husband  on  the  same  day.'°9 

The  battle  of  Sleamhain,"° in  Westmeath,"^  was  fought  a.d.  492, by  Cairbre, 
alreadymentioned,  against  the  Lagenians.  "''The  "ChronicumScotorum'' states, 
however,  that  Eochaidh,  son  of  Coirpre,  was  here  the  victor.  Tighernach 
dates  this  event  at  a.d.  49 7, "^  while  the  "  Ulster  Annals"  have  it  a.d.  498."* 


lum  Cinnlosnado  at  489,  or  according  to 
others  at  490.  See  "  Annales  Ultonienses," 
tomus  iv.,  p.  8,  ibid.  Again,  the  **  Annals 
of  Tighernach"  place  the  battle  of  Cillosnad 
at  A.D.  490.  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  pp.  123, 
124. 

57  According  to  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  of  this  celebrated  battle  it  was 
said : — 

"  Died  the  branch,  the  spreading  tree  of 
gold, 
Aenghus  the  laudable,  son  of  Nadfraech, 
His  prosperity  was  cut  off  by  Illann, 
In  the  battle  of  Cell-Osnadha  the  foul," 

— O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.  152,  I53- 

^  She  was  sister  of  Crimthann,  King  of 
Hy-Kinsellagh. 

99  See  O'Mahony's  Xeating's  **  History  of 
Ireland,"  book  ii.,  part  ii.,  chap,  i.,  p.  421. 

^°°  His  daughter  Uctdelb  or  Ughdelve  was 
the  wife  of  Oilild  Molt,  supreme  Monarch 
of  Ireland. 

^°'  The  reader  is  referred  to  a  statement 
in  a  previous  note,  as  also  to  the  account 
given  by  the  ancient  writer  of  St.  Kieran's 
Acts.  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum 
HibemisB,"  V.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani, 
cap.  xix.,  p.  460.  Brogan,  the  Devout,  has 
given  a  similar  narrative  in  his  tract  "  On 
the  heroic  Actions  of  the  Leinster  Kings." 

"^  Such  is  the  account  of  Dubtach  O'Lu- 
gair. 

^°3  Johannes  Dubaganus,  and  two  other 
anonymous  authors,  in  a  "  Catalogue  of  the 
Kings  of  Munster." 

^°'*  Colgan  says,  that  all  these  varying  ac- 
counts can  be  reconciled,  in  the  account  of 
iEngus's  death,  noticed  under  A.D.  489,  in 
the  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters;"  as 
those  persons  there  named  were  partici- 
pators in  the  battle  fought  against  the  King 
of  Munster. 

^°5The  old  writer  of  St.  Kieran's  Acts  al- 
ludes to  this  event  in  the  following  words  : 
**  et  haec  cedes  maxima  abusio  erat." 


*°' Regarding  his  death,  the  following 
translation  of  an  Irish  poem  states  : — 

"  A  branch  of  the  great  spreading   tree 

died — 
iEngus  the  praiseworthy,  son  of  Nath- 

fraeich ; 
His  head  was  left  with  lollann, 
In  the  battle  of  foul  Cill-Osnaigh." 

— **  Chronicum  Scotorum."  "William  M. 
Hennessy's  translation,  p.  31. 

'°7  The  ancient  writer  of  the  Life  of  St. 
Kieran,  whose  acts  will  be  found  at  the  5th 
of  March,  tells  us  that  ^ngus  and  his  queen 
were  killed,  in  consequence  of  a  prophecy 
of  St.  Kieran,  fulfilled  at  the  battle  of 
Ceall-Osnaidh. 

^^8  See  William  M.  Hennessy's  "  Chro- 
nicum Scotorum,"  pp.  30,  31. 

^°9See  Colgan's  "Acta  Sanctorum  Hi- 
bemise,"  V.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap. 
xix.,  p.  460. 

"°  While  Dr.  O'Donovan  states,  that  in 
Meath  and  Ulster,  the  word  j-leAtriAin 
means  "slimy"  or  "  slippery,"  and  "land 
bearing  elms  ;"  Dr.  Joyce  seems  to  derive 
it  from  sleibhin  (slayveen),  the  diminutive 
of  sliabh,  and  applied  to  a  little  hill.  See 
"The  Origin  and  History  of  Irish  Names 
of  Places,"  part  iv.,  chap,  i.,  p.  367. 

"^  Sleamhain,  modernized,  Slewen,  or 
Slane,  is  now  represented  by  the  townlands, 
Slanelieg  and  Slanemore,  in  the  parish  of 
Dysart,  baronies  of  Moycashel  and  Maghera- 
dernon.  See  "Ordnance  Survey  Town- 
land  Maps  for  the  County  of  Westmeath," 
Sheet  18. 

""  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  154,  155  and  n. 

(q). 

"3  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores."  The  "  Annals  of  Tiger- 
nach"  have  at  AD.  497,  CAch  SteAmnA 
mi-oe.     Tomus  ii.,  p.  125. 

"4  See  ibid.,  tomus  iv.,  "  Annales  Ulto- 
nienses," p.  9. 


124 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


Again,  Eocha,  son  of  Cairbre,  was  victorious"^  over  Fiach  Mac  Finnchada, 
a  king  of  Leinster,  who  fell  in  the  second  battle  of  Granairet,  or  Graine,"^ 
A.D.  494,  or  496."7  The  battle  of  Innimore,  or  Inde  Mor,  in  the  territory 
of  Congabhla,  was  fought  against  the  Leinstermen,.  and  their  leader  Illann, 
son  of  Dunlaing.  Murcheartach  Mac  Earc  was  victorious.  This  engage- 
ment took  place,  according  to  some  accounts,  in  492"^  or  497, "9  while 
certain  writers  have  it  entered  at  a.d.  499,"°  and  others  at  a.d.  500."* 
Tigernach  records  the  battle  of  Innimor  at  a.d.  503. "^^  During  the  reign  of 
Lugaidh,  Ard-Righ,"3  the  war  of  Saegre  or  Saeghais  was  carried  on  a.d. 
494,  according  to  the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen,""4  while  those  of  Tigernach^s 
place  that  event  at  the  year  500.  The  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters"  register 
this  battle  of  Seaghais,  at  a.d.  499,  which  is  said  to  correspond  with  a.d.  504."^ 
Muircheartach  Mac  Erca  became  a  guarantee  between  Duach  Teangumha,"7 
King  of  Connaught,  and  his  brother  Eochaidh  Tirmcharna.  The  latter  was 
foster-father  and  uncle  to  Duiseach.  She  was  wife  to  Muircheartach,  and 
daughter  to  Duach  Teangumha."^  She  is  said  to  have  instigated  her  husband 
to  avenge  a  wrong  done  by  her  father,  who  had  taken  Eochaidh  a  prisoner, 
and  contrary  to  his  agreement  with  Muircheartach.  Accordingly,  four  en- 
gagements seem  to  have  been  fought  between  the  Hy-Nialls  and  the  Con- 
naughtmen,  in  all  of  which  the  latter  were  defeated.  "9  The  battles  of 
Dealga,  of  Mucramha  and  Tuaim  Drubha  were  followed  up  by  the  battle  of 
Segsa  against  "  Duach  of  the  Brass  Tongue."'3o  Here  Duach,  who  suc- 
ceeded Oilill  Molt,  after  the  battle  of  Ocha,  fell.^31     The  "  Annals  of  Ulster'' 


*'S  This  is  probably,  what  the  "Annals  of 
Tigernach"  call  at  a.d.  495,  the  CAch 
CAtiAifce  5]\eirie.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's 
**  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
ii.,  p.  125.  They  also  state,  that.  Fraoch 
was  killed  here  by  Eochiis. 

"^  See  r Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "Histoire 
de  rirlande,  Ancienne  et  Mod  erne,"  tome 
i.,  part  ii.,  chap,  ii.,  p.  271.  Ma-Geoghegan 
calls  this  king  "Fraoch,  fils  de  Fionchad." 

"7  According  to  the  "Annals  of  Ulster." 
See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hibernicarum 
Scriptores,"  tomus  iv,,  p.  9. 

"8  The  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen"  assign  it 

to  A.  D.  492. 

"'See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  "  Annales 
Inisfalenses,"  p.  4.  Also,  tomus  iv.,  "  An- 
nales Ultonienses,"  p.  9.  give  the  latter  date. 

"°  Thus  a  manuscript  copy  of  the  "  Annals 
of  Clonmacnoise,"  cod.  cl.,  according  to 
O'Flaherty. 

"'See  "Chronicum  Scotorum,"  edited 
by  William  M.  Hennessy,  pp.  34,  35,  and 
n.  8. 

"=«  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  Tigernachi 
Annales,  p.  127. 

"3  See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History 
of  Ireland,"  book  ii.,  part  ii.,  chap,  i.,  p. 
422. 

"*•  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  Annales  Inis- 
falenses, p.  4. 

"5  See  ibid.  Tigernachi  Annales,  pp. 
125,  126. 


"^  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i., 
pp.  160  to  163. 

"7  He  was  otherwise  called  Duach  Galach, 
i.e.y  the  Valourous. 

"^'^^  In  Irish  his  name  is  written  "OuAcli 
CenjAumA. 

"9  See  I'Abb^  Ma-Geoghegan's  "Histoire 
de  rirlande,  Ancienne  et  Modeme."  Se- 
conde  Partie,  chap,  ii.,  p.  271. 

'3°  Dr.  O'Conor  thinks  he  was  so  called 
because  of  his  using  the  warlike  trumpet — 
"  yEre   ciere   viros,   Martemque   accendere 
cantu," 

'3^  Regarding  this  battle,  Cenfaelad,  an 
ancient  poet,  sang  : 

CAch  Se^hfA  beAn  -oo  tritiAib  iTo'o^tiAi^, 

lAO  boi  C]\U  ■OCApS  DAIA  CpUipgVl, 

La  Duipch,  ingin  "OuaicVi 

CAcVi  DeAlcCA,  CACh  mtl6|\AmA  ACUf  CAch 

UUATriA  X)|\ubA, 
La  cAch  SeA^i^A,  hi  cco|\cai^  "OuAch  UeAii- 

gutnhA. 

Thus  rendered  into  English  by  Dr.  O'Dono- 

van  — 

"  The  battle  of  Seaghais ;  a  certain  woman 
caused  it ;  red  blood  was  over  lances. 
By  Duiseach,  daughter  of  Duach. 
The  battle  of  Dealga,  the  battle  of  Mu- 
cramha,  and    the    battle    of    Tuaim- 
Drubha, 
With  the  battle  of  Seaghais,  wherein  fell 
Duach  Teangumha." — See  "  Annals  of 
the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  162,  163. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


125 


enter  the  battle  of  Seaga — as  they  write  it — at  a.d.  501.^32  Seghais  was  an 
old  name  for  the  Curlieu  Hills, '33  near  Boyle,  on  the  confines  of  the  counties 
of  Sligo  and  Roscommon.'34 

It  would  seem,  that  soon  after  the  death  of  St.  Patrick,  about  A.D.  493,^25 
the  great  fort  at  Dun-da-leathghlas,^36  or  Downpatrick,  had  been  assaulted 
by  some  hostile  force.  Tighernach  places  this  siege  at  a.d.  496.^37  Cairbre, 
the  son  of  Niall,  fought  at  Ceann-Ailbhe  or  Cnoc-Ailbhe,  against  the 
Leinsterman,  a.d.  494. '3^  This  was  probably  the  name  of  a  hill  in  Magh- 
Ailbhe,  in  the  north  of  Kildare  county. '39  Tighernach  has  this  engagement 
of  Cindailbe  at  a.d.  499."*°  The  batde  of  "  the  White  Hill"  is  noted  in  the 
"  Annals  of  Ulster,"  at  A. D.  500. '4^  It  is  called  the  batde  of  Kinailbe,  in 
the  "Annals  of  Clonmacnoise,"  and  it  is  entered,  under  the  year  501.'** 
The  battle  at  Droma  Loch  Muidhe,  or  "  the  hill  of  Loughbuy,"'43  was  fought 
against  the  O'Neills  by  the  Leinstermen.'44  The  latter  were  here  victorious, '*5 
after  a  very  sanguinary  engagement. ''♦s  This  encounter,  called  "  the  battle 
of  Druim-Lough-maighe,"  by  the  Four  Masters,'^?  took  place,  a.d.  496,  or 
5oo,'48  Qj.  ^Q2,  according  to  the  "  Annals  of  Ulster."'49  This  place  was  de- 
nominated Magh-Muirthemne,'5o  situated  in  the  territory  of  Conaille,  the 
level  portion  of  Louth  county. ^si   in  503,^52  or  504,^53  the  battle  of  Mannen'54 


*32  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.  Annales  Ul- 
tonienses,  p.  10. 

^33  These  are  partly  situated  in  the  Barony 
of  Boyle,  county  of  Roscommon,  and  partly 
in  the  baronies  of  Corran  and  Coolavin, 
county  of  Sligo.  These  mountains  appear 
from  the  town  of  Boyle,  "rising  from  the 
opposite  side  of  a  valley  at  the  distance  of 
about  a  mile  ;  their  height  is  not  consider- 
able ;  and,  as  every  part  of  their  surface  is 
applicable  to  tillage,  pasturage,  or  planting, 
houses  may  be  observed  gathering  far  up 
their  sides."  John  D' Alton's  "  History  of 
Ireland  and  Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  i.,  p.  9. 

^34  See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History 
of  Ireland,"  book  ii.,  part  i.,  chap,  i.,  p. 
422,  n.  67. 

^35  See  William  M,  Hennessy's  "Chroni- 
cum  Scotorum,"  pp.  32,  33. 

^36  The  Anglicized  form  of  this  name  is 
stated  to  be  "the  dun  or  fort  of  the  two 
broken  locks  or  fetters."  See  Dr.  O'Dono- 
van's  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol. 
i.,  n.  (e),  p.  158. 

'37  It  is  entered  as  Expugnatio  'Oiiin- 
leAch-gUife.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Re- 
rum  Hihemicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii. 
Tigemachi  Annales,  p.  125. 

'38  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  158,  159 

'39  See  z^/^.,  n.  (g) 

'*°  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  **  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores."  "Tigemachi  Annales," 
p.  125,  tomus  ii. 

'4'  Ibid.,  tomus  iv.  Annales  Ultonieuses, 
p.  10. 

'^  At  A.D.  496,  it  is  entered  in  William 
M.  Hennessy's  "Chronicum  Scotorum," 
PP-  34,  35- 

'43  Anglicized,  "  the  yellow  lake."    It  is 


difficult  to  ascertain  its  locality  in  Louth 
under  cither  denomination. 

''*'*  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores, "  tomus  iv.  Annales  Ul- 
tonienses,  pp.  9,  lO. 

^■^5  The  "Chronicum  Scotorum"  places 
the  battle  of  Druim  Lochmaighe  at  A.D. 

499,  PP-  34,  35- 

'46  See  I'Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "His- 
toire  de  I'lrlande,"  tome  i.  Seconde  Partie, 
chap,  ii.,  p.  271. 

'47  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i., 
pp.  160,  161. 

'4^  See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  **  History 
of  Ireland,"  book  ii.,  part  i.,  chap,  i.,  n. 
68,  p.  422. 

'49  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  **  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  lO. 

'50  It  is  stated,  that  the  forests  of  this  dis- 
trict were  cut  down  a.m.  2859,  before  pes- 
tilence destroyed  the  adventurers,  whom 
Nemedius  had  led  to  invade  Ireland.  This 
etymon  is  Anglicized  "  the  Plain  of  the 
Sea."  See  "  The  History  of  Dundalk,  and 
its  Environs,"  by  John  D' Alton  and  J.  R. 
O'Flanagan,  chap,  i.,  p.  I. 

'5'  This  territory  was  also  called  Machaire 
Oirghiall,  and  the  ancient  inhabitants  were 
designated  Conaille  Muirtheimhne.  See 
Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Leabhar  na  g-Ceart,  or 
the  Book  of  Rights,"  n.  (s),  p.  22. 

'5^  See  "Annales  Ultonienses."  Dr. 
O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scrip- 
tores," tomus  iv.,  p.  II. 

'S3  See  "Tigemachi  Annales,"  ibid.,  p. 
127.     This  writer  has  it  CAch  m  An  Ant). 

'5*  There  was  a  Mannin- Lough,  otherwise 
called  Loch-na-n  Aireadh,  in  the  ancient 
territory  of  Ciarraighe-Locha-na-naimeadh, 
which  comprised  about  the  southern  half  of 
Costello  Barony,  in  the  county  of  Mayo, 


i26 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


was  fought  by  Aedan,  son  of  Gauran.  This  was  probably  some  invasion  of 
the  Isle  of  Man,'55  with  the  particulars  of  which  we  are  now  uninformed. 'ss 

The  war  of  Ardacorann  or  Ardacoraind's?  is  noticed  at  a.d.  497,^^8  go^^ 
507,  and  510.^59  Tighernach  notes  it  at  a.d.  508.'^  Next,  according  to 
the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen/'  the  war  of  Fremaind  Midi  took  place  a.d.  499.^^^ 
The  "  Chronicum  Scotorum,"  has  a.d.  505.^^=*  But  the  "Annals  of  Tigher- 
nach" mention  it  as  the  battle  of  Femmaigh  Midi — more  correctly  Fream- 
hainn^^3 — fought  against  the  Berradian  Offelians/^4  a.d.  508.^^5  At  the  year 
509,  however,  the  "  Annals  of  Ulster"  notice  it,  in  the  following  manner. 
Failgi  Berraide  or  Falgeus  Berradensis  was  conqueror  in  the  war  of  Fremonn, 
now  Frewin,^^^  fought  against  Fiach,  son  of  Neill.'^7  Yet,  the  tide  of  victory 
soon  turned  against  the  Offalians.'^^  The  "Annals  of  Inisfallen"  refer  to 
a.d.  504,^^9  the  battle  of  Dromderg,  or  the  "  Red  Hill,"^7o  which  was  fought 
against  them.  The  "Chronicum  Scotorum"  enters  it  at  a.d.  512.  Fiach 
Mac  Neill  was  the  conqueror,  in  this  engagement,  over  the  Hy-failge.  At 
A.D.  515,  or  516,  the  date  for  this  encounter  has  been  entered  in  the  "  Annals 
of  Ulster."^7i  The  plains  of  Meath  were  harrassed  by  the  Lagenians,  after 
this  battle,'72  according  to  one  account ;  although,  others  state, '73  the  result 
of  this  conflict  enabled  Fiach  to  wrest  the  plains  of  Midhe  from  the  La- 
genians,'74  whose  champion  Faibge  Berraide  appears  to  have  been. 

The  foregoing  accounts  are  sufficient  to  satisfy  us,  that  the  land  of  Eire 
was  "  a  trembling  sod;"'75  during  the  lifetime  of  St.  Brigid.     It  is  said,  that 


See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  ii.,  n.  (1),  p.  1115,  and  Index 
Locorum,  pp.  81,  90. 

^55  The  Manann  of  our  Annals  is  the  pre- 
sent Isle  of  Man.  See  ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  n. 
(m),  p.  878. 

^56  See  this  battle  noted  in  Revi  James 
Johnstone's  "  Antiquitates  Celto-Norman- 
nicse,"  p.  57. 

^57  Not  identified. 

»58  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores."  Annales  Inisfalenses, 
p.  5,  tomus  ii. 

^ss»  In  the  usual  doubtful  style,  the  **  An- 
nals of  Ulster"  enter  it,  under  each  of  the 
three  foregoing  dates,  tomus  iv.,  p.  ii, 
ibid. 

^^  He  styles  it  CAch  ^^•DA-co|\Ain'o. 
Ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  127. 

*^^  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  5« 

**'  See  William  M.  Hennessy's  edition, 

pp.36,  37. 

^^3  In  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  this  battle  in  Meath  is  no- 
ticed at  a.d.  501.  Keating  places  the  site 
of  it  in  the  ancient  territory  of  Teabtha. 
It  is  now  known  as  Frewin,  a  lofty  hill 
rising  over  the  western  shore  of  Lough 
Owel,  in  the  townland  of  Wattstown, 
parish  of  Portomon,  barony  of  Corkaree, 
and  county  of  Westmeath.  See  vol.  i.,  n. 
(w),  p.  89,  and  pp.  162,  163. 

•*♦  Res  Failghe,  or  "  Ros  of  the  Rings," 
was  ancestor  of  the  Ui  Failghe,  of  whom 
O'Conchobhuir  Failghe  (O'Conor  Faly) 
and  O'Diomasaigh  (O'Dempsey)  of  Clann 
Maeiliaghra  (Clanmalier),  and  O'Duinn 
(O'Duime)  of  Iregan,  were  the  most  distia< 


guished  families,  after  the  establishment  of 
surnames.  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  **Leab- 
har  na  g-Ceart,  or  Book  of  Rights,"  n.  (b), 

p.  193- 

^^5  Called,  CAch  ■pe^niriAisTii  ITIi'oi  in 
"Tigernachi  Annales."  Dr.  O'Conor's 
**  Rerum  Hibemicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
ii.,  p.  127. 

16&  The  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Westmeath"  do  not 
give  this  historic  site,  where  it  ought  to  be 
noted,  on  Sheet  11. 

'''^  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  Rer.  Hib.  Scrip., 
tomus  iv.     *' Annales  Ultonienses,"  p.  II. 

^^8  In  Sir  Charles  Coote's  "  Statistical 
Survey  of  the  King's  County,"  we  have  the 
following  ridiculous  account  about  the  deriva- 
tion of  their  territory :  "Hy  Falgia  is  derived 
from  Hy  Bealgia,  that  is  the  country  of  the 
worshippers  of  Beal." — Introduction,  p.  i. 

^^  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  Annales  Inis- 
falenses, p.  5. 

»7°The  "Annals  of  Ulster"  term  it  the 
"war  of  Dromaderge. "  Perhaps,  the  Red 
Hills,  near  Kildare,  might  be  identified  with 
the  site. 

'7'  These  records  continue  to  state,  that 
Caennfael  said,  the  battle  in  the  red  hills 
was  a  vindictive  revenge  of  the  heart  after 
seven  years.     See  ibid.,  tomus  iv.,  p.  12. 

'7»  According  to  Caennfael.     See  ibid. 

^73  See  William  M,  Hennessy's  "  Chro- 
nicum Scotorum,"  pp.  38,  39. 

'74  So  states  Cendfaeladh,  as  found  in  his 
poem.     Ibid. 

'75  An  expressive  term  in  our  Annals, 
when  alluding  to  the  prevalence  of  domestie 


fiBRUARY  I.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS, 


t2i 


Illann  died  a.d.  506,  that  he  ruled  thirty,  and  that  he  lived  120  years.  The 
latter  account  is  probably  an  exaggeration.  Even  after  death — deferred  to 
A.D.  524^76  in  one  account — his  name  was  a  terror  [to  his  enemies.  The 
Hy-Nialls  then  collected  a  large  army,  which  invaded  the  territories  of 
Leinster.^77  Cucorb  is  said  to  have  led  the  Lagenians  to  a  signal  victory,^78 
which  was  obtained  at  Fionnabhuir  or  Fennor,^79  near  Kildare,  a.d.  506.'^° 
Other  accounts  have  it  at  a  later  period.'^^  The  spirit  of  their  buried  hero 
survived  in  the  souls  of  his  former  companions-in-arms,^^^  and  the  voice  of 
fame  seemed  to  speak  from  the  very  grave,  where  his  remains  were  moulder- 
ing in  their  kindred  dust.  The  people  of  the  Leinster  province,  having  as- 
sembled in  council,  resolved  on  removing  the  mortal  remains  of  their  king 
from  his  tomb.  The  ghastly  corpse  had  a  magic  force,  second  only  to  his 
living  presence  among  them.  ^^3  Driven  in  a  chariot  towards  their  enemies, 
the  Leinster  people  met  them,  at  a  place  called  Luachair,^^'^  and  fought  around 
the  dead  body  of  Illand,'^5  until  they  routed  NeilFs  posterity  with  great 
slaughter.  ^^^  The  success  of  their  arms  was  attributed  by  the  Leinstermen 
to  the  exposition  of  their  former  king^s  dead  body,  and  to  the  special  protec- 
tion of  St.  Brigid,^^7  which  gave  them  confidence  and  courage. ^^^  Thus  was 
the  name  and  influence  of  our  illustrious  abbess  mighty  with  the  mightiest ; 
and  her  protection  was  obtained  by  those  kings  and  people,  who  had  fostered 
her  great  religious  foundation,  whenever  public  and  private  occasions  called 
for  her  prayers  and  intercession. 


wars,  at  various  periods. 

'7^  See  William  M.  Hennessy's  "  Chroni- 
cum  Scotorum,"  pp.  40,  41. 

^77  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's 
**  La  Santitk  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  471,  472. 

^78  This  battle  obtained  by  the  Leinster- 
men, under  Cucorb's  leadership,  took  place 
A.D.  506,  the  thirtieth  year  of  Illand's  reign, 
according  to  the  "  Catalogue  of  the  Kings 
of  Leinster."  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga,"  n.  53,  p.  544. 

^79  Such  is  Dr.  O'Donovan's  identifica- 
tion. 

*8°  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  164,  165. 

^^^  See  William  M.  Hennessy's  "Chroni- 
cum  Scotonim,"  pp.  40,  41. 

^^'  "  Their  souls  are  kindled  at  the  battles 
of  old  ;  at  the  actions  of  other  times.  Their 
eyes  are  flames  of  fire.  They  roll  in  search 
of  the  foes  of  the  land.  Their  mighty  hands 
are  on  their  swords.  Lightning  pours  from 
their  sides  of  steel.  .  .  .  Bright  are  the 
chiefs  of  battle,  in  the  armour  of  their  fa- 
thers."— James  Macpherson's  "Poems  of 
Ossian."     Fingal,  book  i. 

^^3  Such  an  incident,  as  the  present  one, 
might  well  have  inspired  "the  Bard  of 
Erin,"  when  he  wrote  these  magnificent 
lyric  lines : — 

"  And  it  cries,  from  the  grave  where  the 
hero  lies  deep, 
*  Though  the  day  of  your  chieftain  for 
ever  hath  set, 
0  leave  not  his  sword  thus  inglorious  to 
sleep- 


It  hath  victoi7's  life  in  it  yetl'"— 
Moore's  "  Irish  Melodies." 

'^4  Luachair  means  a  "  Rushy  Place,"  but 
although  there  are  countless  places,  bearing 
this  name  in  Leinster,  Dr.  ODonovan  had 
never  been  able  to  identify  the  exact  site  of 
this  battle. 

18S  «  While  thus  aloft  the  hero's  corse 
they  bear, 
Behind  them  rages  all  the  storm  of 

war. 
Confusion,  tumult,  horror,  o'er  the 

throng 
Of  men,  steeds,  chariots,  urg'd  the 
rout  along."  —  Pope's    Homer's 
"  Iliad,"  book  vii.,  11.  821  to  824. 

^^^  An  account,  concerning  this  miracle, 
is  also  given  in  the  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  at  a.d.  506,  as  follows:  "The 
battle  of  Luachair  [was  fought]  by  Cucorb 
against  the  Ui-Neill,  of  which  was  said  : 

The  fierce  battle  of  Luachair,  over  head, 

Brighet  saw,  no  vain  vision  ; 
The  bloody  battle  of  Fionnabhair  was  noble, 
about    the    body  of   Illann  after  his 
death." 
— See  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.  164, 
165,  and  nn.  (z,  a). 

^^7  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  x., 
xi.,  xii.,  xiii.,  pp.  551,  552.  This  account 
is  abbreviated  in  the  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae, 
cap.  xc,  p.  538,  idtd. 

'^^  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidae,  sect,  liv.,  Iv., 
p.  594,  i6td.,  where  the  saint  is  said  to  have 
promised  Illand  a  succession  of  victories,  it 
IS  related,  that  the  brother  of  the  king,  on 


128 


LIVES  OF  THE  lETSH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

DIFFERENT  PLACES  CALLED  KILBRIDE,  ON  THE  EASTERN  AND  SOUTH-EASTERN  COAST 
OF  ANCIENT  LEINSTER,  WHERE  THE  HOLY  ABBESS  MAY  HAVE  LIVED — ST. 
BRIGID  AND  ST.  SENAN— ST.  BRIGID  RESTORES  A  CRIPPLE— AN  INSANE  MAN — 
VARIOUS  MIRACLES  WHICH  WERE  WROUGHT  THROUGH  HER  MERITS— SHE  PREVENTS 
BLOODSHED  BETWEEN  CONALL  AND  CAIRBRE — SHE  SAVES  CONALL  FROM  HIS 
ENEMIES. 

St.  Brigid  seems  to  have  founded  some  religious  establishment,  near  the 
Irish  Sea,  and  on  the  western  side  of  the  ancient  kingdom  of  Leinster. 
There  are  several  places  called  alter  her,  in  corresponding  situations ;  but, 
it  is  difficult  now  to  determine  if  any  one  of  them  be  identical  with  it.  Hav- 
ing for  a  western  boundary  a  pretty  streamlet,  which  joins  the  Bray  river,' 
and  which  divides  it  from  Kilcroney,  there  is  a  townland  of  Kilbride,  in  the 
northern  part  of  Wicklow  county.^'  It  lies  within  the  parish  of  Bray,3  a 
short  distance  west  of  the  town,  in  the  barony  of  Rathdovvn,  and  very  con- 
venient to  the  sea.  No  trace  of  a  ruined  church,  however,  can  now  be  dis- 
covered there  ;  although,  it  seems  likely  one  formerly  existed,  and  which  had 
been  dedicated  to  our  St.  Brigid,  from  whom  the  townland  probably  derived 
its  denomination.  Besides  this,  there  is  a  townland  and  parish  of  Kilbride* 
in  the  barony  of  Lower  Talbotstown.  A  small  stream  passes  the  village  of 
Kilbride,  and  this  is  soon  poured  into  the  upper  waters  of  the  River  Liffey. 
Yet,  no  ruin  can  be  traced  on  the  site  of  the  townland,  which  appears  to  have 
been  named  after  our  St.  Brigid. s  Again,  there  is  a  Kilbride  townland  and 
village  in  the  parish  of  Dunganstown  ^ — certainly  not  its  ancient  name — in 


hearing  her  words,  conceived  a  great  desire 
to  obtain  a  like  favour,  to  become  a  servant 
of  St.  Brigid,  and  to  receive  baptism.  Ac- 
cording to  the  metrical  account,  the  follow- 
mg  reply  was  made  by  our  saint : 

•  *  Haec  tibi  credenti'praestabit  magna  potestas, 
Tempora  longa  prius,  cum  hoc  regno  vita 

futura, 
Et  tua  progenies  post  te  tua  regna  tenebit, 
Donee  ad  extremum,  veniet  post  terminus 
jevi." 

These  promises  of  the  saint  are  likewise 
said  to  have  been  fulfilled  ;  and  Colgan,  in 
a  lengthened  note,  postfixed  to  this  passage, 
gives  a  long  list  of  the  kings  of  Leinster, 
belonging  to  Ailill's  race,  extracted  from 
our  Annals,  and  tending  to  establish  the 
truth  of  such  prophecy.  See  ibid.,  n.  12, 
p.  598. 

Chapter  ix,~-»  The  Bray  River  issues 
from  the  romantic  lough  of  the  same  name, 
and  runs  about  eight  miles  eastward — but  so 
as  to  describe  the  segment  of  a  circle  with 
the  convexity  southward— to  the  sea,  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  below- the  bridge,  at  the 
town  of  Bray.  It  has  most  of  its  course  in 
the  Wicklow  half- barony  of  Rathdown  ;  but, 
over  a  short  distance  above  its  embouchure, 
it  runs  on  the  boundary  between  the  counties 
of  Dublin  and  Wicklow,    *  *  Though  brief  in 


length,  it  abounds  in  attractions,  and  identi- 
fies itself  with  the  curiosities  of  Glencree, 
the  wonders  of  the  deep,  dark,  bosky  ravine 
of  Dargle,  the  exulting  beauties  of  the 
demesne  of  Powerscourt,  and  the  several 
amenities  of  the  town  of  Bray." — "  Parlia- 
mentary Gazetteer  of  Ireland,  vol.  i.,  p. 
277. 

=*  See  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps 
for  the  County  of  Wicklow."  Sheets,  4,  7, 
8. 

3  In  the  Dinnsenchus  there  is  a  legendary 
account,  that  Bray  was  so  called  from  Brea, 
son  of  Seanboth,  one  of  Parthalon's  fol- 
lowers, who  first  introduced  single  combat 
into  Ireland.  See  Dr.  P.  W.  Joyce's  '*  Ori- 
gin and  History  of  Irish  Names  of  Places," 
part  iv.,  chap,  i.,  p.  377.  Might  the  valley, 
in  which  Kilbride  is  situated,  have  been 
called  Magh-Breagh,  so  frequently  men- 
tioned in  the  Lives  of  St.  Brigid  ? 

^This  parish  is  represented  on  the  "Ord- 
nance Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the 
County  of  Wicklow."    Sheets,  I,  2,  5,  6. 

5  Still  in  this  parish,  there  are  two  old 
burial  grounds  and  several  raths.  See 
Lewis'  "Topographical  Dictionary  of  Ire- 
land," vol,  ii.  p.  56.  One  of  these  ruins  is 
not  far  from  the  Catholic  church  of  Kilbride, 
and  surrounded  by  a  graveyard.  The  ruined 
walls  now  scarcely  rise  above  the  earth. 

fin  Daniel  Augustus  Beaufort's   "Me- 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


T29 


the  barony  of  Arklow.7  The  townland  and  village  are  somewhat  removed 
from  the  sea,  which  they  overlook.  Not  far  from  the  town  of  Arklow,  are 
the  townland  and  parish  of  Kilbride,^  in  the  barony  of  Arklow.9  The  old 
church  here  seems,  however,  to  have  been  dedicated  to  a  St.  Bride,  different 
from  the  holy  Abbess  of  Kildare.  The  church  is  near  the  sea-shore,  and  it 
commands  a  fine  view  of  the  sea,  and  the  town  of  Arklow.  ^° 

A  short  distance  from  Clondalkin,  in  the  townland  and  in  the  parish  of 
Kilbride,"  barony  of  Newcastle,  and  county  of  Dublin,^=^  are  the  ruins  of  an 
old  castle  and  an  ancient  church,  which  occupy  a  slight  elevation  and  which 
are  picturesquely  situated.  The  graveyard  enclosure  is  nearly  circular,  and 
it  adjoins  a  road,  near  Castle  Bagot  demesne.'3  Kilbride  old  church  is 
within  some  short  distance  of  the  Dublin  and  Naas  road,  nearly  mid-way 


Ivnbriue,  k^q.  Dublin. 

between  Clondalkin  and  Rathcoole.  In  summer  time,  the  graves  in  Kil- 
bride churchyard  are  almost  smothered  with  nettles ;  and,  few  tombstones 
are  now  there,  while  only  a  portion  of  the  ancient  church  remains.^*  The 
choir-arch  gives  evidence  of  its  being  antique  ;  while,  excepting  the  arching 
stones,  which  were  carefully  dressed,  the  other  building  stones  are  mostly 
small.      The  church,  even  when  complete,  seems  to  have  been  exceedingly 


moir  of  a  Map  of  Ireland,"  this  parish  is  set 
down  as  a  rectory  in  the  diocese  of  Dublin. 
See  Index,  p.  28.  The  present  Catholic 
church  stands  on  the  site  of  the  ancient  one, 
and  is  surrounded  by  the  old  graveyard. 
Such  is  the  traditional  information  given  to 
the  writer  by  Rev.  James  Doyle,  D.D.,  of 
St.  Michan's  church,  Dublin,  who  has  a 
thorough  local  knowledge  of  the  neighbour- 
hood. 

7  See  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps 
for  the  County  of  Wicklow."     Sheet  31. 

*  These  are  shown  in  the  "Ordnance 
Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 
"W  icklow. "     Sheets  40,  4 1 . 

5  The  Parish  extends  along  the  left  side  of 
the  Ovoca  river  to  the  sea.      See  "  Parlia- 

VOL.  II.— No.  3. 


mentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland,"  vol  ii.,  p. 
368.     ■  .    . 

^°  See  Lewis'  "  Topographical  Dictionaty 
of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  55. 

"  This  parish  is  a  chapelry,  and  part  of 
the  benefice  of  Clondalkin.  See  "  The 
Parliamentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland,"  vol. 
ii.,  p.  367. 

"  See  **  Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Dublin."   Sheet  21. 

'3  On  Kilmactalway  townland.  Near 
Castle  Bagot  House  are  the  ruins  of  another 
old  church,  within  a  graveyard,  not  far  re- 
moved from  Kilbride.     See  ibid. 

^4  The  accompanying  engraving  by  George 
A.  Hanlon,  Dublin,  is  from  a  drawing, 
taken  on  the  spot,  by  Mr.  John  O'C. 
K 


I30  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


small ;  yet,  the  walls  were  of  great  thickness.  Around  the  choir-arch,^s  the 
face  of  its  wall  is  now  much  broken.  A  few  ivy-tendrils  creep  up  along  the 
sides  of  this  ruin.  From  the  site,  a  splendid  view  of  the  Dublin  mountains 
and  of  the  Liffy  valley  may  be  obtained.  This  church  appears  to  have  taken 
its  name  from  our  St.  Brigid ;  still,  it  is  doubtful  enough,  that  she  founded  it, 
or  that  she  there  resided,  at  any  particular  period  of  her  life.  Although,  in 
the  city  and  county  of  Dublin,  several  churches  and  religious  houses  had 
been  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  probably  at  epochs  long  subsequent  to  her 
decease;  yet,  we  could  not  presume  to  assert,  that  she  ever  founded  or 
resided  at  any  of  those  places  during  that  interval,  when  she  lived  in  the 
eastern  and  maritime  part  of  Leinster. 

In  the  county  of  Wexford,  there  is  a  Kilbride  townland,^^  quite  near  the 
sea-shore,  in  the  parish  of  Kiltennell,^7  and  barony  of  Ballaghkeene.  No 
trace  of  a  ruined  church  is  there  to  be  found.  ^^  Besides  this,  on  Kilbride 
townland,^9  removed  some  miles  from  the  sea-shore,  in  the  parish  of  Bally- 
huskard,^°  and  barony  of  Ballaghkeene,  an  old  church  and  a  graveyard  are 
yet  to  be  seen.  There  is  a  Kilbride  townland,^^  not  far  from  Duncannon 
rort,^^  and  near  the  sea,  in  the  united  parishes  of  St.  James  and  Dunbrody, 
barony  of  Shelburne.  No  trace  of  a  ruin  can  be  discovered  there,  on  the 
Ordnance  Survey  Maps.  Still,  we  may  fairly  infer,  that  in  times  remote, 
the  great  Patroness  of  Ireland  had  churches,  chapels,  or  convents,  dedicated 
to  her  memory,  in  nearly  all  the  foregoing  townlands  and  parishes.  A 
knowledge  of  these  facts,  however,  will  hardly  help  us  to  determine  the  exact 
place  of  her  maritime  abode. 

While  St.  Brigid  lived  in  her  convent,  beside  the  Irish  Sea,  she  is  said  to 
have  prepared  vestments  =3  for  the  holy  Bishop  Senan.  He  then  lived  in  an 
island,^4  which  was  situated  at  an  opening  towards  the  ocean,  in  the  western 
part  of  Ireland.^5  A  wide  expanse  of  water  surrounded  that  island,  and  it 
lay  at  a  long  distance  from  Brigid's  religious  establishment.  Just  opposite 
the  to^vn  of  Kilrush,  and  now  constituted  a  portion  of  that  parish,  Scattery 
Island  ^^  and  its  famous  ruins  =7  may  be  seen  far  out  into  the  waters  of  the 
spreading  Shannon.^^      The  vestments  to  be  used  in  offering  up  the  Holy 


Robinson,    Blackrock,    Co.  Dublin.  371,  372. 

^5  A  great  number  of  old  ruined  churches  =3  These  are  called  "missalia  indumenta," 

in  Ireland  had  been  distinguished  by  similar  in  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life, 
choir-arches.  =*  To   this   island,    formerly    called  Inis 

^^  See  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  Cathuigh,  and  at  present   Scattery  Island, 

for  the  County  of  Wexford."     Sheet  12.  allusion  is  frequently  made  in  the  Acts  of 

^7  This  parish  is   also  called    Kilbride.  St  Senan,  which  will  be  found  at  the  8th 

See  Lewis'   "Topographical  Dictionary  of  of  March. 
Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  212,  213.  =s  The  accompanying  engraving,  by  George 

*^  The  Owenvarra,   which  flows  through  A.  Hanlon,  Dublin,  is  from  a  sketch  taken 

Courtown  demesne,  falls  into  the  sea,  at  the  near  the  scene  by  William  F.   Wakeman, 

bay    of   Kilbride.      See    J.    N.   Brewer's  who  afterwards  transferred  it  to  the  wood. 
"  Beauties  of  Ireland,"  vol,  i.,  p.  389.  26  <<  jj.  jg  ^^^  called  Holy  Isle  :  and  on  the 

^^  See     "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland  festival   of  the   saint   it  is  resorted  to  by 

Maps  lor  the  County  of  Wexford."    Sheets  crowds  of  pilgrims."— "  The  Tourists'  lUus- 

26,  27.      The  church  and  graveyard  are  to  trated  Handbook  for  Ireland,"  p.  134. 
be  found  on  Sheet  26.  =7  These  are  depicted  on  the  "  Ordnance 

'°  See  an  account  of  it  in  "The  Parlia-  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 

mentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  p.  Clare."    Sheet  67. 
173-  =8  A  smaller  island,  called  Inishbeg,  lies 

='  See    "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland  nearer  to  the  Clare  side,  and  a  little  to  the 

Maps  for  the  County  of  Wexford."     Sheet  north-east  of  Scattery.     See  ibid. 
AA'  =9  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 

='  See  an  account  of  this  spot  in  J.  N.  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cxv.,  pp.  540, 

Brewer's  "Beauties  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  54 1.      Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.  cap. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


131 


Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  were  placed  in  a  chest.  This,  it  is  said,  was  floated 
out  on  the  sea.  St.  Brigid  fully  confided  in  Heavenly  guidance,  that  it  should 
reach  St.  Senan.  Her  confidence  was  not  misplaced ;  for,  the  legend  states, 
this  chest  was  wafted  round  the  Irish  coast  towards  that  part  of  the  island, 
where  St.  Senan  lived.  This  happened  through  a  special  direction  of 
Providence,  and  the  box  went  over  sea-courses,  which  skilled  mariners  could 
only  pass  with  great  difficulty,  and  in  well-appointed  vessels.  St.  Senan  had 
a  revelation  concerning  this  gift  he  was  to  expect.  On  that  particular  day, 
when  the  chest  floated  near  his  island,  Senan  said  to  his  monks  :  "  Go  to  the 
sea,  and  bring  me  whatever  you  shall  find  upon  it."  His  brethren  found  the 
chest,  and  brought  it,  as  required,  to  St.  Senan.^'^      The  latter  told  them,  it 


Scattery  Island,  and  Mouth  of  the  Shannon. 

was  a  gift  sent  by  St.  Brigid,  and  he  gave  thanks  to  God,  while  invoking  a 
blessing  on  the  holy  virgin.3°  However,  a  doubt  has  been  thrown  on  the 
credibility  of  this  legend  3^ — capable  of  being  resolved  from  a  very  marvel- 
lous story  into  a  narrative  divested  of  everything  incredible  3^ — so  far  as  it 
relates  to  our  St.  Brigid.  Although  the  learned  Ussher  inferred  33 — probably 
from  reading  this  account — that  St.  Senan  had  been  established  34  at  Inis- 
cathy,  befote  the  de^-th  of  Kildare's  holy  Abbess ;  yet,  it  is  more  likely  he 


Ixxxi.  p.  561. 

3°  A  somewhat  similar  miracle  is  related 
in  the  Acts  of  St.  Senan,  Abbot  of  Inis- 
cathy  ;  but  there,  the  vestments  prepared  for 
him  were  made  by  a  St.  Brigid,  the  daughter 
of  Conchracius,  of  the  Mactail  family,  and 
whose  cell  was  at  a  place  called  Clan-in- 
fidi,  near  the  banks  of  the  River  Shannon. 
See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hibernise," 
viii.  Martii.  Secunda  Vita,  sive  Supplemen- 
tum  Vitse  S.  Senani,  ex  Hibernico  transum- 
tum,  cap.  xxxix.,  p.  536,  rede  532. 

3*  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  Ecclesiastical  History 


of  Ireland,  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  iv.,  n.  65, 
pp.  449,  450. 

3^  As  for  example,  the  vestments,  packed 
in  a  chest,  might  have  been  shipped  in  the 
ordinary  way,  and  have  been  consigned  to 
St.  Senan,  whom  they  safely  reached. 

33  See  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Anti- 
quitates."  cap.  xvii.,  pp.  454,  488. 

34  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani — who  re- 
lates this  legend — makes  St.  Senan  preside 
over  an  imaginary  body  of  Canons  Regular. 
See  "La  Santitk  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S. 
Brigida  Ibernese."      Libro  Sesto,  pp.  544 


132  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


did  not  setde  there  until  some  time  after  her  death. 35  Hence,  it  seems  pro- 
bable, that  the  present  narrative  has  been  taken  from  -the  acts  of  another  St. 
Brigid,3^  and  transferred  incorrectly  to  the  lives — not,  however,  the  earliest 
ones — of  Ireland's  illustrious  patroness. 

Like  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  regarding  herself  as  subject  to 
human  infirmities,  the  blessed  Abbess  felt  for  the  infirm.37  On  a  certain 
occasion,  while  Brigid  was  sitting  at  the  door  of  a  monastery,  in  which  she 
resided,  she  saw  a  man  at  the  bank  of  an  adjoining  river. 3^  He  was  bearing 
a  burden,  and,  as  he  walked  along,  his  body  seemed  curved.  39  Pitying  his 
condition,  the  compassionate  superioress  said  to  those  around  her,  that  all 
should  go  to  the  man  and  help  to  bear  his  load.  Coming  towards  him,  St. 
Brigid  said  :  "  Let  us  bear  your  burden,  for  it  causes  you  to  stoop  greatly." 
The  man  replied,  however,  that  the  weight  of  his  load  did  not  cause  his 
curvature,  but  an  old  malady,  which  had  troubled  him  during  his  earlier  days. 
Enquiring  about  the  name  of  this  virgin,  who  accosted  him,  he  was  told  she 
was  the  holy  Brigid.  Thereupon,  he  replied ;  "  I  give  thanks  to  God,  that  I 
have  found  her  whom  I  have  sought."  4°  Then,  he  addressed  our  abbess, 
asking  her  to  pray  to  the  Almighty  for  him,  that  his  bodily  defect  might  be 
removed.  This  pious  lady  told  him  to  enter  a  hospice,  where  he  should  rest 
for  the  night,  and  afterwards,  that  he  should  obtain  his  request.  During  that 
night,  our  Saint  importuned  the  Almighty  on  his  behalf. ^^  The  following 
morning,  she  said  to  the  man  ;  "  Go  to  the  river,42  and,  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  wash  yourself,  praying  to  God,  and  I  promise,  that  you  shall  be  able 
to  hold  your  neck  erect.  Until  I  desire  you  to  do  so,  take  care  not  to 
depart  from  that  place."  Obeying  the  holy  virgin's  injunctions,  that  man, 
who  had  been  curved  for  eighteen  years,  was  miraculously  restored.43  After- 
wards, as  in  duty  bound,  he  gave  heartfelt  thanks  to  God  and  to  St. 
Brigid.  44 

On  a  particular  day,  the  holy  woman  met  an  insane  person,  running  from  one 
place  to  another.  In  his  paroxysms  of  frenzy,  this  maniac  caused  great 
annoyance  to  all  that  crossed  his  path.  When  our  Saint  saw  him,  she  ad- 
dressed him  in  these  words :  "  O  man,  announce  to  me  the  words  of  Christ 
Jesus,  our  Lord."4S  Although  the  companions  of  St.  Brigid  feared  very  much 
the  result ;  yet,  they  had  great  confidence  in  the  holy  Virgin's  gifts  of  grace. 
The  frenzied  man  at  once  became  collected  in  his  thoughts.  He  then  said 
to  the  saintly  abbess  :  "  O  holy  Brigid,  I  obey  thee.  Love  God,  and  all  will 
love  thee ;  honour  God,  and  all  will  honour  thee  ;  fear  God,  and  all  will  fear 


lo  546.  Baiano,  in  Campania,  there  may  have  been 

35  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  **  Ecclesiastical  His-  some  natural  curative  properties  in  its  waters, 

tory  of  Ireland,"  vol  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  iv.,  n.  while  the  Abbess  had  her  own  part  in  the 

65,  pp.  449,  450.  working  of  this  miracle.     ^Qcibid,  pp.  312, 

3*^  Supposed  by  Colgan,  to  have  been  St.  313. 

Brigid  ol  Cluain-fidhe,  whose  life  is  to  be  ^^  In  the  supplement  for  use  of  the  Irish 

found,  at  the  30ih  of  September.  clergy,  postfixed  to  "BreviariumRomanum," 

37  See  ii,  Corinthians,  xi.  29,  30.  Pars  Hiemalis,  we  read,   ' '  leprosos  saepius 

3'  This    circumstance    shows    the    place  mundavit,    et  variis  languoribus  aegrotanti- 

could  not  have  been  Kildare.  bus  sanitatem  suis  precibus  impetravit." — 

39  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  imagines,  Die.   i.    Februarii.    Officium    S.    Brigidae. 
that  St.  Brigid  was  then  engaged  superin-  Noct.  ii.,Lect  vi. 

tending  some  operatives,  who  were  building  44  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

a  church  or  monastic  establishment  for  her.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxvi., 

See   *'  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  p.  553.      See  also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae, 

Brigida  Ibemese."    Libro  Quarto,  p.  309.  cap.  Ivi.,  p.  533,  ibid.     Vita  Sexta  S.  Bri- 

40  See  ibid.  p.  310.  gidae,  sec.  lix.,  p.  594.  ibid. 

4'  See  ibid.  p.  311.  45  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo Certani's  "La 

4»  Certani  thinks,  that  like  the  baths  at  Santiti  Prodigiosa.      Vita  di  S.   Brigida 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAIISITS,  133 


thee. "46      When  he  had  spoken  these  words,  he  fled  away,  with  loud  out- 
cries,47 

One  rainy  day,  after  serving  as  a  shepherdess,  St.  Brigid  had  returned  to 
her  cell,  her  garments  being  saturated  with  rain.-*^  After  a  while,  the  sun 
began  to  shine,  and  one  of  its  rays  penetrating  the  wall  of  this  cell,  appeared 
to  our  saint  as  a  line,'»9  for  holding  clothes.5°  On  this  she  placed  her  moist 
garments. 5^  At  the  time,  a  certain  wise  and  pious  man  preached  God's  holy 
word,  while  the  Saint's  attention  was  so  entirely  engaged  by  his  precepts  of 
instruction,  that  totally  forgetful  of  all  earthly  concerns,  midnight  found  her 
in  the  same  entranced  attitude.^'  To  this  unusual  period  the  sun's  rays  re- 
mained within  her  cell,53  while  the  garments  of  our  holy  abbess  hung  thereon, 
until  a  certain  inmate  of  the  house  reminded  her  respecting  that  error  of  visual 
sense. 54  This  miracle  is  alluded  to  in  various  offices  of  St.  Brigid. ss  In  some 
of  her  lives,  it  is  added,  that  certain  persons,  journeying  by  night  through  the 
Liffey  plains,  related  how  they  saw  these  rays  brightening  the  whole  cham- 
paign, until  those  arrived,  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  at  St.  Brigid's  ceU. 
Then,  all  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  admired  all  the  miraculous  manifestations 
of  Brigid's  sanctity.s^ 

In  honour  of  a  certain  great  festival,  the  holy  Abbess  had  prepared  a 
sumptuous  banquet.  Yet,  before  the  time  for  its  intended  consumption  had 
arrived,  she  distributed  the  viands  among  some  poor  visitors.  The  nuns  of 
our  Saint's  monastery  regretted  this  occurrence,  as  many  persons  were  ex- 
pected to  come,  on  occasion  of  their  solemnity.  Brigid  prayed  to  the  Lord 
that  night ;  and,  it  so  happened,  a  rich  inhabitant,  living  within  that  district, 
had  been  conveying  in  waggons  certain  viands,57  which  were  provided  for 
the  king. 58  Having  lost  the  way,  however,  it  yet  chanced,  that  rich  neigh- 
bour came  directly  to  the  gate  of  St.  Brigid's  monastery.  Concerning  this 
circumstance,  God's  devoted  servant,  being  preternaturally  admonished,  went 
out  to  meet  him,  and  to  enquire  about  his  destination.  The  fortuitous  visitor 
was  inspired  to  offer  the  whole  of  his  store  to  the  Abbess,  and  he  told  her, 


Ibernese."    Libro  Quinto,  pp.  341  to  343.  si  See  Camerarius,   "De  Statu  Ilominis 

4^  The   Rev.    S.    Baring-Gould,   who,  in  Veteris  simul  ac  novae  Ecclesiae,  et  Sanctis 

his  account  of  St.  Brigid,  relates  the  fore-  Regni  Scotiae,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  sec.  ii.,  p. 

going  incident,  also  adds  :  "  "Was  there  ever  140. 

a  better  sermon  preached  in  fewer  words ?  "  ^2  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 

—  "Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.  February  Santitk   Prodigiosa.       Vita  di   S.    Brigida 

1st,  p.  20.  Ibernese,"     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  479,  480. 

47  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  53  See  Rev.  S.  Baring- Gould's  "  Lives  of 
VitaQuarta  S.  Brigidas.  Lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxv.,  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.     February  i.,  p.  19. 

p.  555.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  ^4  The  account  in  the  Third  Life  exactly 

Ixv.,  p.  534.  coincides  with  that   recorded  in  the   text. 

48  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Vita  Tertia  S. 
Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii,,  cap.  xv.,  p.  552.  Brigidse,  cap.  xcii.,  p.  539.  This  miracle  is 
In  the  First  Metrical  Life,  we  are  told,  she  related,  likewise,  in  the  Fifth  Life,  with  a 
returned  from  tending  her  sheep.  This  greater  amount  of  amplification,  ibid.  Vita 
duty  had  caused  the  rain  to  drench  her  Quinta  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xliii.,pp.  577,  578. 
garments.  Ibid.  Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidae,  See,  also.  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  vii., 
sec.  17,  p.  516.  p.  583,  ibid. 

49  In  the  Second  Life,  this  same  occupa-  ^s  Petrus  de  Natalibus  has  a  similar  ac- 
tion is  assigned  as  a  cause  for  her  exposure  count.  See  also  De  Burgo's  "  Officia  Pro- 
to  the  shower  ;  but,  it  is  there  stated,  that  pria  Sanctorum  Hiberniae.  i.  Februarii, 
through  a  defect  of  vision,  she  saw  not  a  OfficiumS.  Brigidae,  Noct.ii ,  Lect.  v.,p.  12. 
line,  but  a  tree,  taking  the  form  of  a  sun-  s^  See,  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Vita  Ter- 
beam.—/(!5zV!^.  Vita  SecundaS.  Brigidae,  cap.  tia  S.  Brigidae,  cap,  xciii.,  p.  539.  Vita 
vii.,  p,  519,  QuartaS.  Brigida;,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xvi.,  p.  552. 

5°  The  legends  in  several  cases— as  in  the  ^7  And,   as  we  are  informed,  these  were 

present  instance— give  us  an  insight  regard-  furnished  to  celebrate  that  festival, 

ing  many  domestic  usages  of  our  ancestors.  ^s  Probably  the  King  of  Leinster.     His 


134  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


it  was  a  Providential  circumstance,  that  he  had  thus  strayed,  although  in  a 
well-known  country.  He  promised,  likewise,  to  prepare  some  other  provi- 
sions for  his  lord,  the  king.  Receiving  an  account  of  what  had  happened, 
the  latter  transferred  that  villager,  with  all  his  family,  to  serve  God  and  the 
holy  virgin,  Brigid,  as  a  perpetual  vassal,  living  on  her  own  property.  The 
king,  moreover,  sent  another  waggon,  loaded  with  provisions,  for  the  use  of 
our  saint,  on  occasion  of  this  great  solemnity,  so  that  she  was  fully  enabled 
to  supply  the  wants  of  all  her  guests. 59  The  holy  abbess  thus  realized,  even 
in  a  material  way,  the  force  of  these  Gospel  words,  that  for  religious  fidelity 
she  should  receive  an  hundred  fold.^°  A  certain  queen,^^  among  other 
valuable  presents  to  St.  Brigid,  had  presented  her  with  an  ornamental  silver 
chain.^2  Having  received  our  Saint's  blessing,  that  queen  returned  home, 
while  Brigid's  nuns,  taking  the  chain  from  the  hands  of  their  abbess, 
deposited*  it  among  their  church  treasures.  Yet,  as  the  holy  abbess  was 
accustomed  to  distribute  all  her  possessions  to  the  poor,  a  destitute  person 
coming  to  her  received  the  aforesaid  chain.^3  Our  saint  took  it  from  her 
church  valuables,  as  she  had  nothing  else  to  bestow.  Brigid's  nuns,  on 
learning  this,  said  to  their  superioress,  "  O  mother,  owing  to  your  generosity, 
we  lose  whatever  God  gives  us  through  charitable  Christians ;  for,  you 
leave  us  nothing,  since  you  bestow  all  upon  the  poor."  To  evade  their  re- 
monstrances, our  Saint  said  :  "  My  daughters,  whilst  I  remain  in  the  church, 
go  and  seek  your  chain,^+  which,  perhaps,  you  will  find."  Obeying  her  com- 
mands, they  found  a  chain,  exactly  resembling  the  one  which  had  been  given 
away.  Then  they  presented  it  to  St.  Brigid,  asking  her  pardon.  The  holy 
abbess  replied:  "  Give  earthly  things  to  God :  He  will  return  you  earthly  and 
heavenly  favours.'^^s  The  nuns  ever  afterwards  preserved  that  chain,^^  as  a 
standing  memorial  of  the  extraordinary  charity  characterizing  their  holy 
superioress.     A  certain  leper,  belonging  to  the  race  of  Neill,^7  coming  to  St. 


name  or  district,  However,  is  not  recorded,  conclusive  evidences  of  our  early  civiliza- 

in   St.    Brigid's  ancient   Lives ;    although,  tion. 

Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani — who  chroni-  ^*  The  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  re- 

cles  these  incidents — makes  all  this  occur  at  lating  these  occurrences,  without  any  seem- 

Kildare,    without  any  apparent  authority.  ing  warrant,  but  the  promptings  of  his  own 

See   "La  Santith,  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  bright  Italian    imagination,    converts    the 

Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro  Quarto,  pp.  280  "chain  of  silver"  in  St.  Brigid's  ancient 

10283.  Lives  into  "Collana  d'oro,"  or  "  a  golden 

59  See     "Trias     Thaumaturga."      Vita  necklace."      See  "  La  Santit^  Prodigiosa. 

Quarta  S.   Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.   xvii.,  p.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese;"  Libro  Quarto, 

552.     Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidse,  cap.  xlix.,  pp.  283  to  287. 

p.  532,  ibid.      Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  ^s  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "  VitaQuar- 

xli.,  pp.  590,  591,  ibid.  ta  S.  Brigida^,  lib.  ii.,  cap.   xviii.,  p.  552. 

^  St.  Luke,  vi.  38.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  1.,  p.  532,  ibid. 

^*  Her  name  or  place  of  residence  is  not  Vita  Sexta  S.   Brigidse,  sec.  xlii.,  p.  591. 

given,  in  St.  Brigid's  Latin  Lives.     But,  in  ibid. 

Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  the  Saint,  ^  In  the  Metrical  Acts,  we  have  foUow- 

she  is  called  the  Queen  of  Crimthan,  son  ing  minute  description  of  this  ornament : 
of  Enna   Cennsellach,    King  of   Leinster. 

See  pp.  35,  36.      From  this  we  may  pro-  "  Vertice  cui  summo  fuerat  formata  figura 

bably  draw  an  inference,  that  St.  Brigid  was  Humani  capitis  :  subtilis  lucet  imago 

then  living  somewhere  in  the  east  or  south-  Filis  argenti  preciosa,  ac  textilis  hamis 

east  of  Leinster.  Spherula    in    alternis    fulvis  prsefulgida 

^'  It  is  said  to  have  had  the  figure  of  a  gemmis." 
man  attached  to  one  of  its  ends. 

*'3  Almost  daily  are    objects  of    ancient  From  the  foregoing  minute  description,  this 

Irish  art  and  ornament  among  "  the  finds  "  chain  must  have  been  elaborately  and  richly 

of  our  rural  population  ;  and,  several  most  fashioned. 

interestin£T  specimens  have  found  their  place  ^'  This  leper  appears  to  have  belonged 

in  our  museums.      These  furnish  the  most  to  the  territory  of  Meath,  which  is  usually 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  135 


Brigid,  asked  her  for  a  cow  and  calf,  which  the  abbess  directed  her  herdsman 
to  give.  He  enquired  from  our  saint,  what  sort  of  a  cow  and  calf  he  should 
select.  She  told  him, to  choose  the  best  out  of  their  herd.^^  Then  the  herd- 
man  and  the  leper  selected  those  of  prime  shape  and  condition.  Yet,  they 
found  it  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  to  separate  the  calf  from  a  particular  cow 
belonging  to  the  herd,  although  that  cow  was  not  its  dam.  This  was  told  to 
the  saint  by  the  poor  leper,  when  Brigid  desired  one  of  her  servants,^9  then 
engaged  at  cooking, 7°  to  go  and  assist  him  in  driving  home  those  animals. 
Her  servant  enquired,  who  had  been  left  to  cook,  when  our  abbess  said,  he 
should  return  to  take  charge  of  that  work,  within  a  very  short  time.  The 
man  did  as  he  had  been  desired,  and,  with  the  leper,  he  accomplished  a 
journey  usually  occupying  of  two  days,  but  he  effected  it  within  an  hour. 
Their  destination  was  towards  the  north,  and  to  a  place,  called  Brigh-Chob- 
thuigh  Chaoil.7^  It  escapes  our  present  power  of  identification.  On  return- 
ing to  St.  Brigid,  her  servant  found  the  flesh-meat  in  the  cauldron,  but  not 
yet  cooked.  These  miraculous  events  are  accorded  to  St.  Brigid's  merits. 
All,  to  whom  they  became  known,  were  greatly  edified.^^ 

A  certain  king,  accompanied  by  a  large  retinue,  came  to  celebrate  the 
feast  of  Pentecost,  where  St.  Brigid  Hved.73  He  spent  the  eve  of  this  festival 
with  her.  On  the  following  morning,  having  heard  Mass,  he  set  out,  with 
his  horsemen  and  chariots,  for  his  own  castle.  When  this  day's  solemnities 
had  been  celebrated,  according  to  custom,  our  pious  abbess  superintended 
those  tables  that  were  set  for  the  abundant  refection  of  rich  and  poor.  But, 
among  the  number  of  her  guests,  an  insolent  or  a  demented  leper,74  through 
some  whimsical  impulse,  refused  to  partake  of  food,  if  he  did  not  first 
obtain  a  spear  7S  which  belonged  to  the  king.  The  leper  was  asked,  why  he 
had  not  demanded  it,  on  the  previous  day ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  all  who 
were  present  pressed  him  to  eat.  They  could  not,  however,  procure  his 
compliance.  The  leper  remarked,  it  was  only  on  the  present  occasion  he 
desired  that  gift.  The  compassionate  abbess  could  not  bring  herself  to  par- 
take of  food,  while  that  leper  was  fasting.  She  immediately  despatched 
messengers  on  horseback  after  the  king,  to  ask  his  spear  as  a  gift.  These 
set  out,  and  overtook  the  dynast,  as  he  was  crossing  the  ford  of  a  small 
stream.  There  they  preferred  our  saint's  request.?^  The  king  joyfully  pre- 
sented his  spear  to  them,  with  the  remark,  that  he  would  give  up  all  his 


called  in  St.  Brigid's  Lives,  "  regio  nepotum  Brigidse,  sec.  xlv.,  p.  592. 

Neill,"  that  is,  of  the  Southern   O'Neills.  73  The  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  writes: 

The  Northern  O'Neills  principally  lived  in  **  II  Re  della  Lagena  era  venuto  a  Killda- 

Ultonia  or  Ulster,  during  our  Saint's  life-  ria,"  &c. — La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

time.     See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  S.   Brigida   Ibernese."     Libre   Quarto,   p. 

n.  26,  p.  543.  303,    Yet,  although  it  may  fairly  be  inferred, 

^2  These  incidents  are  related,  as  if  occur-  -  that  he  was  the  King  of  Leinster,  that  he 

ring  while  St.    Brigid  was  at  Kildare— a  came  to  Kildare,    on  this  occasion,  cannot 

gratuitous,  yet  a  probable  supposition— of  be   established  from   those  accounts    con- 

Abbate  D.   Giacomo   Certani.      See   "La  tained  in  St.  Brigid's  more  ancient  Lives. 

Santitk   Prodigiosa.       Vita  di   S.    Brigida  74  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 

Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  290  to  292.  St.  Brigid,  pp.  35,  36,  he  is  called  "Lo- 

^  The  Third  Life  calls  him  a  carter  or  man,  Brigid's  leper,"  as  if  he  were  some 

groom.  person  kept  in  her  employment,   or  some 

7°  As  we  are  told,  the  servant  was  boiling  charitably  maintained  poor  simpleton,  whose 

some  meat  in  a  cauldron.  mind     and     body    were    wasted    through 

7'  See   Colgan's    •'  Trias   Thaumaturga."  disease. 

Prima  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  stanza  26,  p.  516.  7=  Several  fine  specimens  of  ancient  bronze 

72  See  ibid.      Secunda  Vita  S.   Brigidse,  and  iron  spear-heads  are  yet  preserved  in 

cap.  xvi.,  p.  520,     Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  Museum, 

cap.  lii,,  p.  532,     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  ^^  So  explained   by   Colgan,    in  a  note, 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxii.,  p.  553.     Sexta  Vita  S.  See,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida,  n.  29,  p.  543. 


13^ 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,       [February  i. 


arms,  if  Brigid  required  him.  Our  saint's  messengers  then  asked  what 
caused  a  delay,  which  prevented  the  king  from  proceeding  further  on  his 
journey.  His  retinue  repUed,  although  riding  much,  they  knew  God's  pro- 
vidence had  delayed  them,  that  Brigid  might  be  released  from  the  leper's 
importunity.  Giving  praise  to  God  and  to  our  saint,  the  royal  cortege  soon 
arrived  at  their  home.  Her  messengers  returned  to  the  holy  abbess  with 
the  king's  spear.  This  she  immediately  handed  to  the  leper.  Then,  the 
saint  and  her  guests  partook  of  the  banquet  provided,  77  and  while  thankmg 
the  Almighty  for  favours  received,7S  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt,  she  felt 
grateful  to  the  high-minded  and  generous  dynast,  who  had  so  great  a  re- 
verence for  his  pious  hostess. 

Unless  referred  to  an  early  period  of  her  life,  it  is  very  difficult  to  recon- 
cile with  exact  chronology  the  following  statements,  contained  in  St.  Brigid's 
Acts.  The  holy  abbess  possessed  that  benign  and  ingenious  power,  which 
could  pacify  those  fiery  and  passionate  spirits,  whose  ebullitions  gave  rise  to 
so  many  private  and  public  quarrels.  Her  blessing  was  the  harbinger  of 
peace. 79  One  day,  walking  near  the  road-side,  Connall,  son  to  Niall — sup- 
posed to  be  the  Monarch  of  the  Nine  Hostages— came  towards  Brigid,  who 
was  accompanied  by  her  nuns.  Now,  the  last-mentioned  celebrated  king 
had  two  sons2°  so  named  ;  one  being  distinguished  as  Connall  Crimthann,^^ 
while  the  other  was  called  Connall  Gulban.^"  As  the  latter^3  died,  a.d.  464,^* 


77  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.,  ii.,  cap.  xxv., 
P-  553-  See  also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse, 
cap.  Iv.,  p.  533,  ibid. 

7**  See  the  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's 
account  of  the  foregoing  occurrences  in  "La 
Santitk  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  303  to  308. 

79  See  L.  Tachet  de  Barneval's  "Histoire 
Legendaire  de  I'lrlande,"  chap,  viii.,  pp. 
80,81. 

^°  Their  respective  deaths  are  commemo- 
rated, in  Dr.  O' Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i. 

^'  Conall  Cremthoinn  was  ancestor  to  the 
O'Melaghlins,  who  bore  the  tribe-name  of 
Clann-Colmain,  and  to  other  ancient  and 
powerful  families  in  Meath.  From  this 
prince  were  descended  seventeen  Irish 
monarchs.  There  were  nine  monarchs  of 
Ireland,  belonging  to  the  race  of  Aedh 
Slaine,  who  was  himself  monarch  of  Ire- 
land, from  A.D.  599  to  605.  When  sur- 
names had  been  established,  the  chief  fa- 
mily of  his  race  took  the  surname  of  U'Kelly 
Breagh.  This  clan  settled  in  the  great  plain 
of  Bregia,  towards  the  east  of  ancient  Meath. 
See  O  Flaherty's  "  Ogygia,"  pars  iii.,  cap. 
Ixxxv.,  p.  410,  and  cap.  xciii.,  p.  431. 

8^  The  Cinel-Conaill,  or  Conall's  race, 
are  the  O'Donnells  and  their  correlative 
families,  in  Tyrconnell,  or  the  county  of 
Donegal} ;  while  Magh-Slecht  was  the  plain 
around  Ballymagauran,  in  the  north-west 
part  of  Cavan  County.  Here  Conall  Gul- 
ban  was  killed  by  the  Masraidhe,  an  an- 
cient Firbolg  tribe,  who  lived  in  that  place, 
as  the  Book  of  Fenagh  mentions.  The 
prince  had  gone  into  their  territory  on  a 
predatory  excursion,  and  he  had  seized  a 


great  prey  of  horses  ;  but,  he  was  pursued 
and  overtaken  at  Loch  Saloch,  near  Fe- 
nagh, in  the  county  of  Leitrim.  Here,  he 
was  slain  and  buried.  The  account  of 
Conall  Gulban  having  been  buried  by  St. 
Caillin  is  said  to  be  an  anachronism  and  a 
fabrication  of  the  writer  of  St.  Caillin's 
Life,  preserved  in  the  "  Book  of  Fenagh." 
St.  Caillin  is  reputed  a  contemporary  of  St. 
Columkille,  and  consequently  he  could 
hardly  have  been  born  in  464,  much  less 
have  been  abbot  of  Fenagh  in  Magh-Rein. 
There  is  much  to  be  read — not,  however,  of 
a  very  well-authenticated  character  —  re- 
garding Conall  Gulban  in  "The  Book  of 
Fenagh,"  in  Irish  and  English,  originally 
compiled  by  St.  Caillin,  Archbishop,  Ab- 
bot, and  Founder  of  Fenagh  alias  Dunbally 
of  Moy-Rein,  tempore  S.  Patricii ;  with  the 
contractions  resolved,  and  (as  far  as  pos- 
sible) the  original  Text  restored.  The 
whole  carefully  revised,  indexed,  and  cor- 
rectly annotated,  by  W.  M.  Hennessy, 
M.R.I. A.,  and  done  into  English  by  D.  II. 
Kelly,  M.R.I. A.  See  pp.  89,  91,  93,  95, 
97,  139,  141,  143,  147,  15s.  157,  159,  161, 
225,  235,  243,  253,265,  313,  317,  323,  325, 

359.  395.  405,  409. 

^3  In  Dr.  ©'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemica- 
rum  Scriptores,"  at  A.D. 464,  we  find,  in  the 
hiatus,  which  supplies  the  "  Annals  of 
Tigernach,"  an  account  of  the  death  of 
Conallus  Gulban,  from  whom  the  family  of 
Tir-Connel  derives  its  origin.  Seep.  113, 
tomus  ii. 

84  In  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  at  A.D,  464,  we  read: 
"  Conall  Gulban,  son  of  Niall  of  the  Nine 
Hostages  (from  whom  are  descended  the 
Cinel-Conaill),  was  slain  by  the  old  tribes 


February  i.]        LIVES  01'  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


137 


and  as  the  former  lived  to  a.d.  47 5, ^s  or  even  later  f^  it  is  only  reasonable  to 
suppose,  that  Conall  Crimlhann  was  the  prince,  who  addressed  the  abbess  in 
these  terms :  "  O  holy  virgin,  bestow  on  me  your  special  benediction,  lest 
my  brother  Ca^:brey^7  kill  me,  on  account  of  the  kingdom."  God's  pious 
servant  said  to  him  :  "  Let  your  soldiers  precede  me,  and  I  will  bless  you, 
following  them."  At  her  request,  the  soldiers  preceded  them,  on  their 
march.  When  the  whole  company  advanced  through  the  hills,  one  of  her 
nuns  said  to  St.  Brigid  :  "  O  mother,  what  shall  we  do  ?  Behold,  Carbrey,^^ 
the  brother  of  this  prince,  approaches,  and  these  brothers  will  strike 
each  other."  Our  saint  replied,  that  the  Almighty  would  prevent  such  an 
accident.^5  At  the  same  time,  Carbrey  came  up  to  Brigid,  and  he  said  to 
her :  "  O  holy  virgin,  bless  me,  because  I  fear  meeting  my  brother  Conall,9° 
in  these  parts."  A  film  was  drawn  over  the  brothers'  eyes.^''  Afterwards,  all 
went  together  with  the  abbess,  while  the  hostile  brothers  did  not  recognise 
each  other,  owing  to  our  saint's  prayers. 9^  At  length,  parting  in  different 
directions,  the  brothers  Connall93  and  Carbrey94  even  kissed  each  other,  as 


of  Magh-Slecht,  he  having  been  found  un- 
protected, and  he  was  buried  at  Fidhnach- 
Maighe-Rein,  by  St.  Caillin,  as  the  life  of 
the  aforesaid  saint  relates." — Vol.  i.,  p.  147. 
Also,  see  "The  Book  of  Fenagh,"  edited 
by  W.  M.  Hennessy  and  D.  H.  Kelly,  pp. 

96,  97. 

8s  In  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  at  A.D.  475,  we  find: 
"Conall  Cremhthoinn,  son  of  Niall  of  the 
Nine  Hostages,  from  whom  are  sprung  the 
Clann  Colmain,  and  the  race  of  Aedh  Slaine, 
died."— Vol.  i.,  p.  149. 

8*  At  the  year  480,  the  "Ulster  Annals" 
record  the  death  of  Conaill  mc  Cremtainne 
mc  Neill.  In  a  note,  Dr.  O'Conor  observes, 
that  the  territory  of  Tyrconnell  derived  its 
name  from  him.  See  "  Rerum  Hibernicarum 
Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  6,  and  n.  ibid. 
This  is  incorrect,  however,  as  all  Irish  ge- 
nealogists and  historians  are  unanimous  in 
stating,  Tyrconnell  district  derived  its  name 
from  his  brother,  Connall  Gulban, 

®7At  A.D.  500,  the  "Annals  of  Ulster" 
state,  that  Carbre,  the  son  of  Neill,  fought 
the  battle  of  the  White  Hill  or  Chnuic 
Ailbe  against  the  Leinstermen.  See  Dr. 
O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scrip- 
tores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  10. 

88 See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  121,  122. 

89Colgan  remarks,  that  it  is  doubtful 
which  Conall  had  been  mentioned  in  the 
text ;  whether  Conall  Gulban,  or  Conall 
Cremthainn.  He  thinks,  that  the  quarrel, 
here  alluded  to  between  Conall  and  his  bro- 
ther Carpry  or  Carbrey,  must  have  had  re- 
ference to  some  extension  or  arrangement  of 
territory.  At  this  period,  Carbrey  held  a 
tract  of  country,  called  after  his  own  name 
Carbre,  even  to  times  less  remote.  It  was 
situated  in  the  province  of  Connaught,  and  it 
lay  conterminous  to  the  principality  of 
Conall  Gulban.  He  had  another  tract  in 
the  district  of  Teffia,  near  the  bounds  of 


Conall  Cremthoinn's  lands  in  Meath.  For- 
merly this  tract  was  called  Carbre  Teffia,  to 
distinguish  it  from  the  other. 

5°  On  both  the  foregoing  accounts,  Carbrey 
could  be  committed  to  a  quarrel  with  either 
Conall ;  yet,  Colgan  thinks  the  dispute  in 
question  lay  between  him  and  Conall  Crim- 
thann,  for  these  reasons.  As  St.  Brigid  is 
supposed  to  have  been  bom  in  453,  she  was 
not  a  nun,  and  could  only  have  been  twelve 
years  of  age,  at  the  time  of  Conall  Gulban's 
death,  in  464,  while  she  was  an  abbess,  and 
distinguished  for  her  miracles,  about  the  year 
475,  when  Conall  Crimthann  ig  thought  to 
have  died.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  n.  38,  p.  544. 

9'  See  the  account  of  this  adventure  in  L. 
Tachet  de  Barneval's  "  Histoire  Legendaire 
de  rirlande,"  chap,  viii.,  pp.  77,  78. 

52  At  A.D.  475,  the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen" 
— changing  the  form  of  his  name — note  the 
demise  of  McConaille,  mc  Cremthaine,  meic 
Neill.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiber- 
nicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

93  Again,  in  the  hiatus,  which  supplies  the 
"  Annals  of  Tigernach, "  as  if  according  with 
the  Four  Masters  and  the  "  Chronicum  Sco- 
torum,"  at  A.D.  475,  is  noted  the  death  of 
Conallus  Crimthan,  son  to  Niall  of  the 
Nine  Hostages,from  whom  the  Clan-Colman 
O'Neills  are  derived,  and  the  race  of  Aedh 
Slane.     Seep.  116,  ibid. 

9*  This  is  said  to  have  been  the  same  Car- 
brey  or  Carprey,  an  infidel,  who  refused  to 
receive  baptism,  at  St.  Patrick's  hands,  and 
on  whom  a  malediction  was  pronounced  by 
the  Irish  Apostle.  See  William  M.  Hen- 
nessy's  translation  of  the  Irish  Tripartite 
Life  of  St.  Patrick,  part  ii.,  in  Miss  M.  F. 
Cusack's  "Life  of  St,  Patrick,  Apostle  of 
Ireland,"  p.  396.  Yet,  he  must  have  re- 
pented at  a  subsequent  period — probably  he 
received  baptism  and  became  a  Christian  ; 
as  otherwise,  it  is  not  likely  he  would  have 
asked  a  blessing  from  St.  Brigid. 


138 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS       [February  i. 


if  they  had  been  most  devoted  friends.9s  When  this  occurrence  became 
fully  known,  God's  holy  providence  and  the  fame  of  St.  Brigid,  as  a  peace- 
maker, were  universally  extolled.9^ 

Again,  a  legend  was  in  vogue,  that  on  another  occasion,  when  about  to 
invade  the  country  of  the  Picts,97  who  often  warred  with  the  Britons,^^  this 
same  Conall,  accompanied  by  his  soldiers,  bearing  their  hostile  emblems  or 
standards,99  came  to  St.  Brigid.  He  then  said  :  "  O  saint  of  God,  we  crave 
your  blessing,  for  we  are  about  to  invade  distant  territories  to  defeat  our 
enemies."  The  saint  repHed  :  "  I  entreat  the  Omnipotent  Lord,  my  God, 
that,  in  this  instance,  you  neither  inflict  injury  on  any  one,  nor  suffer  it  your- 
selves, wherefore  lay  aside  those  diabolical  emblems."  Although  she  was  un- 
able to  prevent  the  war,  God  was  graciously  pleased  to  grant  those  prayers 
of  the  holy  virgin.  On  hearing  her  words,  the  hostile  bands  sailed  for  the 
country  of  the  Crutheni,^°°  in  the  northern  part  of  Britain. ^°^  Then,  the  Irish 
invaders  thought  they  had  taken  possession  of  a  certain  entrenched  camp  or 
castle, '°^  besieged  by  them,  that  they  had  burned  it,  and  had  killed  many  of 
their   enemies,   who  were  beheaded. '°3      Afterwards,   the  leader  and  his 


95  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 
Santitk  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  343  to  346. 

^  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxvi,, 
p.  555.  Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
Ixvi.,  p.  534,  ibid. 

97  A  learned  and  researchful  Scottish 
writer  has  observed,  that  the  Pictish  period 
of  Caledonian  history  embraces  a  course  of 
three  hundred  and  ninety-seven  years,  viz., 
from  the  date  of  the  Roman  abdication  of 
the  government  of  North  Britain,  A.D.  446,  to 
the  subversionof  the  Pictish  government,  A.D. 
843.  He  adds,  "  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that 
the  Picts  were  Celts,  and  that  they  were  no 
other  than  a  part  of  the  race  of  the  ancient 
Caledonians  under  another  name." — "A 
History  of  the  Highlands  and  of  the  High- 
land Clans,"  by  James  Browne,  Esq., 
LL.D.,  vol.  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  60. 

^  For  nearly  forty  years  after  the  rule  of 
Constantine  III.,  the  Britons  languished 
under  a  continual  war,  during  the  earlier 
part  of  the  fifth  century.  See  Sir  Winston 
Churchhill's  ' '  Divi  Britannici :  being  a 
Remark  upon  the  Lives  of  all  the  Kings  of 
this  Isle,  from  the  year  of  the  World  2855, 
unto  the  year  of  Grace  1660."  Sect.  i. 
Class  of  Britones.     Vortigern,  p.  93. 

99  Extern  to  any  evidence  contained  in  the 
ancient  Lives  of  St.  Brigid,  the  Abbate  D. 
Giacomo  Certani — who  records  these  inci- 
dents—asserts, that  the  standards  were  orna- 
mented with  the  figures  of  some  false  Gods, 
and  that  they  were  inscribed  with  magical 
characters.  See  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quinto, 
pp.  346  to  348. 

'°°  The  Picts  were  called  Cruithne,  by  the 
ancient  Irish,  in  the  idiom  of  this  latter 
people.  They  are  also  called  Cruachna, 
being  the  older  Pictish  or  Ctltic  race  of 
Scotland.    See  Daniel  Wilson's  "Archae- 


ology and  Prehistoric  Annals  of  Scotland," 
part  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  59. 

'°' "  The  geographical  position  of  the 
British  and  Irish  coasts  sufficiently  accounts 
for  frequent  intercourse  between  the  natives 
of  Scotland  and  Ireland  from  the  earliest 
periods."  .  .  .  "  The  remarkable  an- 
cient historical  Gaelic  poem,  generally  termed 
the  Albanic  Duan,  written  in  its  present 
form  in  the  reign  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  about 
the  middle  of  the  eleventh  century,  thus  re- 
fers to  the  first  peopling  of  Scotland  and 
the  Irish  origin  of  the  northern  Picts  :— 

"  Ye  learned  of  all  Albin, 
Ye  wise  yellow-haired  race, 
Learn  who  was  the  first 
To  acquire  the  districts  of  Albin. 

"  Albanus  acquired  them  with  his  race, 
The  illustrious  son  of  Isiscon, 
Brother  to  Britus,  without  treachery, 
From  him  Albm  of  ships  takes  its  name. 


*'  The  Cruithne  acquired  the  western  region 
After  they  had  come  from  the  plains  of 

Erin  : 
Seventy  noble  kings  of  them 
Acquired  the  Cruithen  plains." 
— See  ibid.,  part  iv.,  chap,  i.,  p.  468. 

^°"  A  distinguished  modern  historian  ha 
asserted  of  Scotland:  "The  country 
crowded  with  hill-fortresses,  small  and 
great ;  they  may  be  counted  by  hundreds. 
They  consist  of  mounds  of  earth  or  stone, 
or  both,  running  round  the  crests  of  hills." 
— John  Hill  Burton's  "  History  of  Scotland, 
from  Agricola's  Invasion  to  the  Revolution 
of  1688,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  91. 

'°3  See  this  account  in  L.  Tachet  de  Bar- 
neval's  "  Histoire  Legendaire  de  I'lrlande," 
chap,  viii.,  pp.  80,  81. 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  139 

bands  returned  to  their  own  country,  with  great  rejoicing  and  in  fancied 
triumph.  According  to  the  legendary  account,  however,  all  this  turned  out 
to  be  a  complete  illusion,  and  when  they  had  landed  at  the  port  for  which 
they  were  bound  in  Ireland,  it  was  only  then  dispelled.  This  was  soon 
learned  from  the  report  of  trustworthy  messengers.  Connell  is  said  to  have 
given  praise  to  God,  when  he  learned  that  no  loss  of  life  had  occurred.  He 
resolved  on  seeing  the  abbess.  When  he  came  to  the  place  where  St. 
Brigid  resided, '^-^  he  related  all  that  had  happened.  Then,  he  and  his 
forces  laid  aside  their  warlike  emblems,  at  St.  Brigid's  request.  She  said  to 
Conall :  "  Because  you  have  renounced  these  badges  at  my  suggestion,  in 
whatever  danger  you  may  be  placed,  invoke  my  intercession,  and  the  Al- 
mighty will  defend  you  on  my  account,  and  you  shall  be  preserved  from 
danger."'°s  This  promise  of  the  saint  was  afterwards  fulfilled.  Some  time 
subsequently,  Conall,  with  a  large  army,  invaded  the  territories  of  his  ene- 
mies, when  he  obtained  a  great  victory  over  them.^°6  Afterwards,  he  re- 
turned in  triumph,  towards  his  own  country.  When  Conall  had  nearly 
reached  his  own  dominions,  night  came  on,  and  he  entered  a  deserted  fort 
or  castle,  by  the  way-side.  There,  his  soldiers  remarked  to  him,  that  they 
should  incur  great  danger,  by  remaining  so  near  the  haunts  of  their  enemies. 
These,  stealing  on  them  unawares,  would  be  likely  to  follow,  and  might  kill 
them  while  sleeping.  The  prince  replied  :  "  The  night  is  now  at  hand,  and 
I  am  fatigued  ;  yet  know,  that  the  pious  Brigid  hath  promised  she  will  de- 
fend me  in  every  difficulty,  whenever  I  invoke  her  assistance.  I  believe, 
what  she  hath  predicted  must  infallibly  come  to  pass.  On  this  night,  I  com- 
mend myself  and  my  forces,  to  God's  Divine  protection,  through  her  holy 
invocation."  As  had  been  suspected,  their  enemies  stealthily  came  that 
night  on  their  track.  When  his  pursuers  approached  that  fort  where 
Connall^°7  lay,  they  sent  forward  three  scouts  to  examine  it.'°^  On  entering, 
these  only  found  a  great  number  of  persons  sitting  there,  in  clerical  habits, '°9 
with  a  light  in  the  midst,  and  with  books  open  before  them.  The  soldiers 
had  placed  their  enemies'  heads  in  that  order,  now  represented  by  the  books, 
on  the  perusal  of  which  the  clerics  seemed  intent. "°  On  returning,  his 
spies  told  their  chiefs  what  they  had  seen,  and  again  the  leaders  despatched 
three  other  scouts  to  return  and  report  the  result  of  their  errand.  As  in  the 
former  instance,  clerics  were  seen  reading  their  books.  Whereupon,  the 
band  of  Conall's  enemies  returned  to  their  homes.  On  the  following  day, 
ambassadors  were  sent  to  Conall,"^  and  these  asked  him  for  those  heads 


'°*  This  might  have  been  at  Kildare,  if  we  Muircheartach  Mac  Ere  were  victors.    Ard- 

accept  the  late  period  assigned  for  Conall's  gal  was  probably  son  to  this  Connall  ;  for 

death.     The  "  Annales  Buelliani,"  at  A.D.  again,  at  522,  the  battle  of  Detnea  (Conaill 

487,    enter,     "  Mors    Conaill."      See    Dr,  Chremhtaine  mc  Neill)  is   entered  in    the 

O'Conor's    **  Rerum   Hibernicarum    Scrip-  *'  Ulster  Annals,"  as  if  this  might  be  a  more 

tores,"   tomus  ii.,    p.    3.     See,  also,   John  correct  date.     Seep.  13. 

D'Alton's  "  History  of  Ireland  and  the  An-  '°« See  "  The  Life  of  St  Brigid,"  by  an 

nals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  72.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  117,  118. 

^°s  See  Abbate D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  '°9 D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  relates  these 

Santita   Prodigiosa.      Vita  di   S.    Brigida  adventures,  calls  those  clerics— as  in  many 

Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  348  to  351.  other  such  cases— Canons  Regular.     This, 

'°^  The    place    where    this    victory   was  however,   is  but  a  phantasy  of  the  author, 

gained  is  not  recorded.  See  "  La  Santit^  Prodigiosa.     Vita  S.  Bri- 

^°7  In  Dr.    O'Conor's    **  Rerum   Hibemi-  gida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  351  to 

carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  the  "  Annals  354. 

of  Ulster"  relate,  at  519,  the  battle  of  Det-  ""See  L.    Tachet  de  Bameval's  "His- 

nea,  in  Drumbadh,  or  in  the  hills  of  Bregia,  toire  Legendaire  de  I'lrlande,"  chap,   viii., 

in  which  fell  Ardgal,  son  of  Conaill,  son  to  pp.  81,  82. 

Neill.     Colga,  King  of  the  Easterns,  and  "'  From  his  great-grandson,  Colman  the 


I40  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS        [February  i. 


which  he  had  taken  with  him,  that  so  they  might  be  interred  with  the  decapi- 
tated bodies.  On  deHvering  this  message,  the  petitioners  obtained  their  de- 
mand, and  returned  to  their  chiefs.  These  learned,  afterwards,  how  Conall 
and  his  army  had  been  really  in  that  place,  where  they  remained  invisible  to 
their  pursuers.  The  legend  of  our  Saint's  Acts  relates,  that  such  circum- 
stances, becoming  known  to  the  people  on  either  side,  caused  them  to  glorify 
God's  name,  and  to  extol  that  of  Brigid."^  Thus,  where  iniquity  and  strife 
abounded,  her  gentle  and  charitable  soul  desired  that  grace  and  peace  should 
more  abound. 


CHAPTER  X. 

ANCIENT  IRISH  HOSPITALITY— BISHOP  BROON'S  VISIT  TO  ST.  BRIGID— THE  EIGHT 
BISHOPS  OF  TULLACH  NA  N-ESPUC — HOLY  BRIGID'S  LOVE  FOR  THE  POOR — HER 
GENEROUS  GOOD  NATURE — HER  GENTLENESS  OF  MANNER. — ILLUSTRATION  OF 
SUCH  CHARACTERISTICS— HER  CHAPLAIN,  NATFROICH — ST.  NINNIDH — ST.  CON- 
LEATH  APPOINTED  BISHOP  OF  KILDARE. 

In  Ireland  of  the  olden  time,  hospitality  -was  a  characteristic  of  her  nobles 
and  of  her  simple-minded  people.  Each  tribe  had  its  Biatach^  and  its  affini- 
ties f  the  stranger  and  wanderer  were  welcomed  to  friendly  homes ;  while 
the  bard  tuned  his  harp,  when  the  generous  host  held  forth  his  hand  to  the 
honoured  guest.  Should  not  our  great  saints  then  be  received  with  all 
possible  manifestations  of  respect  while  on  their  travels  ?  More  temperate 
than  most  others,  they  could  partake  of  wine  and  metheglin  without  degene- 
racy ;  while,  their  sources  of  wealth,  like  the  faith  which  created  it,  seemed 
inexhaustible  and  bid  defiance  to  prodigality.  Kings,  with  their  suite,  and 
even  with  their  army,  often  sat  down  at  the  table  of  a  poor  bishop,  anchorite 
or  religious,  and  partook  of  firugal  fare,  frequently  supplied  in  a  most  Provi- 
dential manner.3 

Such  was  her  respect  for  those  men  deserving  it,  that  Brigid  paid  them 
every  mark  of  attention  and  politeness ;  while,  her  modesty  was  so  great, 
that  she  never  presumed  to  look  fully  on  the  face  of  any  man.*  Yet,  she 
was  always  joyful,  when  distinguished  bishops  came  to  her  home.  From  a 
circumstance  hereafter  related,  it  may  be  possible,  that  St.  Brigid  was  living 


Great,  the  Clan-Colman  is  derived.  See  find  allusions  to  the  biAccAij  or  "pur- 
John  D' Alton's  *'  History  of  Ireland,  and  veyors."  See  Professor  Eugene  O'Curry's 
the  Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  72.  "Manners  and   Customs  of   the    Ancient 

»"See  Colgan's  "Trias   Thaumaturga,"  Irish."     Edited  by  Dr.   W.  K.   Sullivan, 

Vita  QuartaS.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap,  xxxvii.,  vol.  iii.     Appendix,  pp.  438,  442. 

xxxviii.,  pp.  555,  556.      Also,  Vita  Tertia  3  See  the  glowing  account  of  L.  Tachet 

S.  Brigidse,  cap.  Ixvii.,  pp.  534,  535,  ibid.  de  Barneval,  in  "  Histoire  Legendaire  de 

Chapter  X. — 'The  biA-dcAch  or  Biatagh  I'lrlande,"  chap,   viii.,  p.   79.     He  adds: 

was  a  public  ofhcer,  vi^hose  duties  were  to  "  Quelquefois    meme    un    saint    voyageur 

supply  the  king's  household  with  provisions,  venait  au  secours  de  son  hote  surpris  au  de- 

to  furnish  necessaries  for  the  army,  and  to  pourvu,   et  les  convives,  apres  un  instant 

provide  entertainment  for  travellers.     See  d'inquietude,  voyaient  les  mets  et  la  liqueur 

Dr.    O'Brien's     "  Focaloir-GaoWhilge-sax-  renaitre  au  fond  des  vases,  et  remonter  aux 

Bhearla,  or  an  Irish-Enghsh  Dictionary,"  bords  des  coupes.    Alors  on  benissait  Dieu, 

in  v.     Also,  "Tracts  relating  to  Ireland,"  et  le  festin  reprenait,  plus  joyeux  et  plus 

printed  for  the  Irish  Archaeological  Society,  Chretien." 

vol.  ii.    "The  Statute  of  Kilkenny,"  edited  ^  Such  is  the  account  contained  in  her 

by  James  Hardiman,  n.  (e),  pp.  4,  5.  metrical  acts  : — 

^  In  that  ancient  Irish  tract,   known  as  "  Omnibus  ilia  viris  dignos  pra^bebat  ho- 

the  "Tain  Bo  Chuailgne,"  or,  "  The  Cattle  nores. 

Prey  of  Cooley,"  as  found  in  "The  Book  Nee   tamen  ipsa  virum  in  faciem   con- 

of  Lrcinster,"  class  H.  2,  18,  T.C.D.,  we  spexerat  ixllum." 


February  l]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


141 


near  the  shore  of  Leinster,s  when  the  following  recorded  occurrence  took 
place.  Holy  Bishop  Broon,  on  whose  behalf  St.  Brigid  wrought  a  wonderful 
miracle,  came  to  visit  the  illustrious  virgin.  He  brought  with  him  horses, 
chariots,  and  a  considerable  following  of  attendants.^  Approaching  the 
monastery  of  our  saint,  night  came  on  darkly  around  them,  and  they  were 
exposed  to  inclement,  wintry  weather,  in  the  midst  of  a  thick  wood.7 
Having  a  revelation  regarding  this  circumstance,  Brigid  said  to  her  virgins  : 
"  Let  us  pray,  my  daughters,  for  holy  guests,  who  are  approaching  us,  under 
great  privations,  that  the  Lord  may  compassionate  their  labours."  ^  Then 
Bishop  Broon  and  his  companions  had  a  vision  of  St.  Brigid's  monastery,  and 
of  St.  Brigid,  with  her  companions,  joyfully  setting  out  to  meet  them.  Our 
saint  immediately  led  them  into  a  large  hall,  prepared  for  their  reception. 
Having  taken  oft  their  sandals,  she  washed  their  feet,  and  then  refreshed 
them  with  abundance  of  meat  and  drink.9  Scotic  cups  were  placed  before 
the  strangers. '°  The  nuns  also  took  care  of  their  vehicles,  as  it  seemed,  and 
placed  beds  for  them  to  lie  upon,  while  supplying  them  with  all  things 
necessary  for  their  maintenance.  When  morning  dawned,  St.  Brigid  addressed 
the  nuns"  of  her  monastery  :  "  Let  us  go  forth  to  meet  Bishop  Broon  and 
his  companions,  straying  in  a  wood  during  the  past  night."  Then  our  saint 
with  her  virgins  went  out  and  soon  found  their  expected  guests,  sitting  down 
in  the  forest.  The  travellers  thus  learned,  that  God  had  wrought  a  miracle 
in  their  favour,  on  St.  Brigid's  account ;  for,  they  related  what  happened  to 
them,  as  if  the  abbess  had  been  ignorant  of  it.  Afterwards,  they  gave  thanks 
to  God,  while  joyfully  proceeding  with  His  illustrious  servant  to  her  monastery. 


5  Father  John  Boland,  in  treating  about 
the  other  religious  establishments  of  St. 
Brigid,  seems  to  overlook  the  statement,  that 
she  lived  near  the  maritime  part  of  Leinster. 
See  "Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i,  Febru- 
arii.  Commentarius  Praevius  ad  Vitam  S. 
Brigidee  Virginis  Scotoe  Thaumaturgse,  Kil- 
dariae  et  Duni  in  Hibernia.  Sec.  V.  Kil- 
dariense,  et  alia  S.  Brigidse  monasteria,  32, 
33.  34,  35,  36,  pp.  105,  106. 

*  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  relates 
this  adventure,  makes  his  attendants  Regular 
Canons,  but  without  any  vi^arrant.  See 
"  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Bri- 
gida."     Libro  Sesto,  p.  481. 

7  This  adventure  is  related  in  the  Bolland- 
ists'  "  Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i,,  Februarii. 
Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidoe.  Auctore  Anonymo, 
cap.  xiii.,  p.  130. 

8  The  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life 
afterwards  adds:  "Mira  multum,  fratres 
charissimi,  dicturus  sum  vobis, "  &c.  These 
words  seem  to  indicate,  that  the  Life  in  ques- 
tion had  been  intended  for  monastic  spiritual 
lectures.  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thauma- 
turga."  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii., 
cap.  Iviii.,  p.  559. 

9  "When  they  arrived  at  St.  Brigid's  mon- 
astery, it  is  stated  : 

'*  Postquam  rite  cibo  sanctorum  membra 

refecit, 
Praesulis  et   pedibus    tepidas    asperserat 

undas 
Ilia  sitim  propter  post  Scotica   pocula 

ponit." 


—Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  §  xv.,  pp.  584, 
585,  ibid.  The  Scottish  or  Irish  cups  here 
alluded  to  were  probably  "methers,"  of 
which  many  specimens  are  still  preserved. 
In  Sir  William  R.  Wilde's  "Descriptive 
Catalogue  of  the  Antiquities  of  Stone, 
Earthen  and  Vegetable  Materials  in  the 
Museum  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,"  there 
is  an  interesting  account  of  ancient  methers 
and  drinking  vessels,  with  characteristic 
illustrations,  part  i.,  class  iii.,  pp.  214  to 
218.  Also  part  ii.,  class  iv.,  pp.  264  to 
267. 

^°  Most  probably  they  were  regaled  vyith 
mead,  a  favourite  drink  of  the  ancient 
Irish,  as  with  the  Teutons  of  Northern 
Europe.  This  was  quaffed  from  methers^ 
generally  modelled  from  alder  wood,  crab- 
tree,  sometimes  from  sycamore  or  sallow. 
They  were  quadrangularly  formed,  at  the 
top,  although  usually  rounded  at  the  bot- 
tom. Those  who  used  them  drank  from 
the  angles.  Sometimes  two  and  sometimes 
four  handles  are  found  on  specimens  yet 
preserved.  See  an  interesting  article  "  On 
Methers  and  other  ancient  Drinking  Ves- 
sels," by  Thomas  Joseph  Tenison,  J. P.,  in 
*'  The  Proceedings  and  Papers  of  the  Kil- 
kenny and  South-east  of  Ireland  Archaeolo* 
gical  Society  for  the  year  i860,"  vol.  iii., 
part  i.     New  Series,  pp.  54  to  61. 

"  As  usual,  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani 
makes  them  canonesses.  His  local  and 
modem  ideas  often  lead  him  astray.  See 
"  La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibemese."    Libro  Sesto,  p.  483. 


142 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


St.  Brigid  had  previously  gone  out  to  the  wood,  according  to  her  knowledge 
of  their  case.  There  they  supposed  themselves  enjoying  her  monastic  hospi- 
talities." The  holy  bishop  remained  with  her  for  some  days.  Then,  with 
his  people,  Broon  returned  to  his  own  part  of  the  country.  On  bidding  him 
farewell,  St.  Brigid  bestowed  a  Chrismal^3  on  the  bishop,  v.hich  he  prized  as 
a  valuable  gift.  She  was  accustomed  then  to  give  many  rich  presents  to 
pilgrims  and  to  the  poor.  On  a  certain  day,  after  the  foregoing  occurrences, 
while  this  bishop  travelled  by  the  sea-shore,^'^  his  disciple,  who  bore  St. 
Brigid's  Chrismal,^s  left  it  behind  him,  through  forgetfulness.'^  Recollecting 
such  omission,  he  came  to  the  bishop,  and  told  what  had  occurred,  while 
his  eyes  were  suffused  with  tears.  The  holy  bishop  assured  the  monk  he 
ought  not  weep,  for  the  devil  should  have  no  power  to  deprive  him  of  a  gift 
bestowed  by  St.  Brigid.  The  disciple  had  left  that  Chrismal  by  the  shore, 
near  low  water-mark.  During  his  absence,  the  sea-waves  passed  over  it,  at 
full  tide.  The  brother,  on  his  return,  saw  the  sea  in  this  latter  condition, 
and  waited  for  its  ebb.  At  length  the  waves  receded  to  where  the  travellers 
stopped.  There  he  happily  found  the  vessel. '7  The  disciple  showed  his 
Chrismal  to  Bishop  Broon.  Then  the  latter  gave  thanks  to  God  and  to  His 
holy  servant,  Brigid.  ^^ 

On  one  occasion,  eight  bishops^9  came  from  a  church,  called  Tolach  na 
nEspuc,'°  in  the  territory  of  Hi-Briun-chualann,^^  on  a  visit  to  St.  Brigid.'* 
She  then  dwelt  near  the  margin  of  a  lake,  thenceforward  to  be  denominated 
Loch-leamhnachta.=3    The  holy  virgin  felt  rejoiced  at  the  arrival  of  such  a 


"  In  the  Sixth  Metrical  Life  of  our  saint, 
this  miraculous  occurrence  is  more  poetically 
described,  and  with  those  additional  circum- 
stances of  the  travellers  entertaining  some 
illusion,  that  the  night  passed  by  them  in 
the  woods  seemed  to  have  been  spent  with- 
in the  walls  of  St.  Brigid's  institution,  while 
her  nuns  appeared  ministering  to  all  their 
wants. 

'3  See  the  BoUandists'  "  Acta  Sanctorum," 
tomus  i.,  Februarii.  Vita  Prima  S.  Brigi- 
dse,  Virginis,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  130. 

**  It  is  difficult  to  say,  whether  this  visit 
of  Bishop  Broon  and  his  companions  was  to 
a  convent  of  St.  Brigid,  while  she  was  in 
Westmeath,  or  in  Connaught,  at  Kildare, 
or  at  her  place  of  residence,  beside  the  Irish 
Sea.  The  course  of  his  journey  by  the  sea- 
shore would  seem  favourable  to  the  latter 
identification.  However,  as  the  occurrence 
in  question  took  place,  after  his  visit  to  St. 
Bri^d,  Bishop  Broon  might  have  been  tra- 
versing some  other  and  more  distant  mari- 
time part  of  Ireland. 

'S  It  is  called  "Chrisma,"  which  word 
has  various  ecclesiastical  applications.  It 
is  sometimes  used  for  a  Chrismal,  or  vessel 
in  which  the  Chrisma  or  Holy  Oil  is  kept ; 
sometimes  for  the  ciborium,  in  which  the 
Body  of  our  Lord  is  placed.  But  the  word 
has  a  variety  of  other  meanings,  which  will 
be  found  in  Du  Cange's  "  Glossarium  Me- 
diae et  Infimae  Latinitatis,"  tomus  ii.,  pp. 
338  to  340. 

16  The  Third  Life  of  our  saint  states,  that 
It  was  left  on  a  stone,  which  lay  by  the  sea* 
shore. 


'7  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 
Santitk  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigid  a 
Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto,  pp.  481  to  488. 

'^  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Iviii., 
lix.,  Ix.,  p.  559.  See  also.  Vita  Tertia  S. 
Brigidae,  cap.  Ixxxv.,  Ixxxvi.,  p.  538,  ibid. 

'9  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  it  is  mentioned,  that  certain 
pious  nobles,  viz.,  the  seven  bishops  of  Tea- 
lach,  in  the  west  (?  east)  of  Leinster,  came 
as  guests  to  the  holy  abbess.  See  pp.  37, 
38.  Afterwards,  they  are  mentioned,  as 
belonging  to  Uibh  Bruin  Cualunn,  and  to 
Tealach  na  Nespoc,  which  was  in  that  terri- 
tory.    See  pp.  41,  42. 

'"  It  is  Latinized  "  Collis  Episcoporum." 

'*  A  sept  living  here  bestowed  a  name  on 
this  territory,  which  comprised  the  greater 
part  of  Rathdown  barony,  in  the  present 
county  of  Dublin,  with  a  northern  portion 
of  Wicklow  county.  In  O'Clery's  Irish 
Calendar,  the  churches  of  Cill-Inghine- 
Leinin,  now  Killiney,  Tigh-Chonaill,  now 
Stagonnell,  and  Dunmore,  were  placed 
within  this  district.  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's 
"Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  n. 
(n),  p.  340. 

"  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  affirms,  that  the  bishops  found  her  in 
a  place  by  the  side  of  Cill  Dara,  on  the 
north.     See  pp.  41,  42. 

=3  It  is  difficult  to  identify  this  place.  A 
little  to  the  north-west  of  Kildare,  Lough 
M  inane  or  the  Friar's  Lough,  is  noted  on 
the  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for 
the  County  of  Kildare,"  Sheet  22.    By  Rev. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  143 


company  of  venerable  guests,  who  were  probably  Chorepiscopi,^*  and  she 
went  to  the  cook,  named  Blathnata,=5  to  see  if  this  latter  had  any  refresh- 
ments provided  for  their  entertainment.  Her  cook  replied,  she  had  not  a 
sufficiency  of  viands,  and  especially  nothing  in  the  shape  of  beverage  was 
ready.  Such  an  account  caused  St.  Brigid  to  experience  a  momentary  con- 
fusion ;  but,  recurring  to  prayer,  an  angel  intimated  to  her,  that  her  cows 
should  be  milked.  When  this  had  been  effected,  these  cows  gave  such  a 
quantity  of  milk,  that  all  vessels  in  the  place  were  soon  filled.  It  is  even 
said,  the  milk  flowed  in  a  stream  along  the  ground  towards  a  certain  hollow, 
which  was  filled  with  this  nourishing  fluid.  In  after-times,  that  spot  received 
the  corresponding  Irish  name,  Locti-leamnachta,='^  or  "  the  lake  of  milk." 

The  situation  of  Tolach  or  Tulloch  na  n-Espoc  in  Ui  Briun  Chualann 
identifies  it  with  the  ancient  church  of  Tullagh,  between  Loughlinstown  and 
Cabinteely.  It  gives  name  to  the  parish  of  Tully,=7  in  the  barony  of  Rath- 
down,  and  county  of  Dubfin.  On  a  green  eminence,  and  embosomed 
among  venerable  elder  trees,  thickly  interlaced  with  a  few  hawthorn  and 
ash  trees,  are  the  ruins  of  its  old  church.  The  semi-circular  choir-arch,  the 
diminutive  proportions  of  this  buiiding,  and  the  rude  stone  crosses,  with 
other  memorials  there,  bespeak  its  antiquity. ^^  One  of  the  crosses  stands  on 
the  road  outside  the  graveyard  p  the  other  remains  in  an  opposite  field. 3° 
Various  stone  fragments  are  scattered  around  the  latter.  Owing  to  these 
circumstances,  it  has  been  inferred,  that  Tullagh  had  been  one  of  those 
sanctuaries  or  asylums,  benevolently  intended  to  protect  the  penitent  or  the 
persecuted,  at  a  time  when  violence  prevailed,  and  too  often  fmstrated  the 
demands  of  justice. 3^  The  existing  remains  are  a  good-sized  chancel — 25 
by  t8  feet — to  which  a  corresponding  nave  had  never  been  built.  Judging 
by  the  marks  on  its  western  wall,  the  old  nave  to  which  it  was  added 
measured  only  1 5  feet  in  width.32  Here  are  some  curiously  incised  rude 
stone  monuments.33  The  late  George  V.  Du  Noyer  and  Mr.  H.  Parkinson 
have  drawn  and  described  these  objects.34    A  pictoral  illustration35  of  the 


John  F.  Shearman,  "Lough  Minane"  is  in-  and  it  bears  some  carvings  in  alto-relievo, 

terpreted  "  the  kid's  pool."  on  one  side. 

=4  "The  early  annalists  of  Ireland  give  3i  See  John  D' Alton's  **  History  of  the 

ordinarily  such  a  representation  of  the  pre-  County  of  Dublin."    The  author  supposes 

lates  whom  we  now  speak  of,  and  of  the  this  church  to  have  been  originally  built  by 

functions    which    these    dignitaries    admi-  the  Danes,  and  dedicated  to  their  martyr- 

nistered,  as  shows,  that  they  regarded  these  king  St.  Olave,  who  was  slain  on  the  29th 

ecclesiastics  as  really  belonging  to  the  epis-  of  July,  A.D.  1030.     See  pp.  930,  93I. 

copal  order," — Rev.  P.  J.  Carew's  "  Eccle-  3^  "The  opes  of  all  the  windows  have 

siastical  History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  iv.,  pp.  been  built  up,  so  that  the  mouldings  cannot 

127,  128.  be  seen  ;  but  the  mere  fact  of  the  windows 

="5  Called  also  Blath  or  Flora.     She  is  having  round  arches  internally  is  not  incon- 

honoured  with  a  festival,  at  the  29th  of  sistent  with  the  late  date  (viz.,  perhaps  after 

January.  the  12th  or  13th  century)  ascribed  above  to 

=^  In  his  additions  to   St.  ^nguss  the  the  church."— Dr.  J.   A.    Purefoy   CoUes' 

Culdee's  Martyrology,  at  the  ist  of  Febru-  communication  in  the  "Journal  of  the  Royal 

ary,  Charles  Maguire  relates,  the  foregoing  Historical  and  Archaeological  Association  of 

incidents.  Ireland,"  A.D.  1870,  vol.  i.,  part  i.    Fourth 

^^  It  is  shown  on  the  "  Ordnance  Survey  series,  n.  i.,  pp.  210,  211. 

Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of  Dublin,"  33  Of  these  two  illustrations  are  given  by 

Sheets  22,  23,  25,  26.  Dr.  J.  A.  Purefoy  Colles.      See  ibid.,  p. 

=8  See  John  D'Alton's  "  History  of  the  210. 

County  of  Dublin,"  p.  931.  34  See  "Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish 

^  This  is  of  a  northern  order,  and  sup-  Academy,"  vol.  viii.,  p.  61,  and  vol.  x.,  pp. 

posed  to  be  a  perforated  Odin  cross,  by  Led-  340  to  342. 

wich,  who  is  a  very  poor  authority  on  the  3S  This  is  from  a  drawing  by  Bigari,  which 

subject.  was  in  possession  of  the  Right  Hon.  William 

3°  This  is  of  the  Maltese  shape,  very  tall,  Conyngham.     It  represents  the  scene  par- 


144 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


old  church  has  been  given  by  Grose, 3^  with  a  letterpress  account  by  I.ed- 
wich.37  Some  of  the  features  represented  as  existing  in  the  last  century  have 
since  disappeared.  3^ 

To  our  saint,  as  to  a  common  centre  of  gravitation,  a  crowd  of  poor  and 
afflicted  persons  daily  resorted,  to  seek  relief  in  their  various  necessities  ;39 


TuUagh  Old  Church,  County  Dublin. 

some  expecting  bread,  cheese,  butter,  meal  or  corn ;  others  requiring  milk 
or  some  other  kind  of  liquid ;  some  asking  for  linen,  wool  and  coverlids ; 
as  they  severally  stood  in  need  of  these  various  articles/^  And,  as  works  of 
charity  must  be  performed  by  persons,  who  seek  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
His  justice,^^  so  this  bounteous  virgin,  filled  with  the  spirit  of  Christian 
magnanimity,  could  never  bear  to  send  the  necessitous  away  unconsoled. 
Although,  she  often  laboured  under  an  insufficiency,  or  a  total  want  of 
means,  to  give  alms ;  yet,  the  Divine  riches  were  copiously  showered  upon 
her,  in  one  way  or  another.  The  Almighty  never  refuses  His  assistance, 
whenever  a  sincere  and  an  energetic  effort  of  real  charity  is  exercised,  by  any 
of  His  creatures.  This  was  fully  illustrated,  on  a  certain  occasion,  when  a 
great  number  of  paupers  came  to  our  saint,  earnestly  wishing  to  procure  a 
draught  of  beer,  which  they  asked  from  her  in  charity.  As  the  legend  re- 
lates, she  had  not  this  beverage,  at  the  time,  to  assuage  their  thirst,  and  as 
she  did  not  wish  to  refuse  these  poor  people  their  request,  Brigid  thought  of 


tially  denuded  of  trees,  with  a  fine  cross  in 
the  foreground. 

3*  See  "Antiquities  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 

p.  »5. 

37  Ibid.,  pp.  15,  16. 

38  The  accompanying  original  sketch,  by 
Mr.JohnO'C.  Robinson,  Blackrock,  county 
of  Dublin,  was  taken  in  October,  1875,  on 
the  spot.  It  was  drawn  on  the  wood,  by 
"William  F.   Wakeman,  and  engraved   by 


George  A.  Hanlon,  Dublin. 

39  See  Surius'  "  De  Probatis  Sanctorum 
Historiis,"  Februarius,  tomus  i.  Vita  S. 
Brigid ae,  Virginis,  p.  808. 

*°  The  attributes  and  characteristics  of  St. 
Brigid  are  expressed  in  the  sixth  Metrical 
Life  ;  where  it  is  said,  that  various  matters 
to  bestow  on  the  poor  seemed  as  it  were  to 
increase  under  her  very  look* 

**  St.  Matt*  vi.,  33. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  14S 


the  place,  where  she  might  procure  it,  and  how  it  might  be  obtained.  While 
her  cogitations  ran  on  this  subject,  she  saw,  at  a  little  distance,  water  that 
had  been  prepared  for  baths.-*'  Asking  for  heavenly  assistance,  in  enabling 
her  to  satisfy  the  expectations  of  that  thirsty  flock,  she  besought  the  Saviour 
of  the  world,  who  promises  every  request  to  those  who  ask  in  his  name,^3 
that  he  would  enable  her  to  convert  this  water  into  beer  ;  so  that  her  beloved 
poor  should  not  return  more  sorrowful  than  they  came,  and  be  disappointed 
in  their  petitions  and  expectations.  For  hope,  often  the  only  solace  of 
miserable  persons,  had  sustained  them  before  their  arrival,  and  as  they  felt 
assured  their  sufferings  should  be  reHeved  by  Brigid,  so  must  a  refusal  to 
assist  them  weigh  more  heavily  on  their  spirits.'*'*  Approaching  near  that 
water,  the  Abbess  impressed  a  sign  of  the  cross  on  it,  and  invoking  the 
name  of  Christ,  she  blessed  it.  Then,  He,  who  had  formerly  changed 
water  into  wine,  at  the  marriage  feast  of  Cana,  in  Galileej-^s  was  pleased, 
through  the  merits  of  his  holy  servant,  to  change  water  into  beer,  in  this  pre- 
sent instance.  And,  as  on  the  former  occasion,  joy  was  brought  to  the 
hearts  of  those,  who  celebrated  the  nuptials,  by  procuring  that  supply  of 
wine,  which  had  been  desired ;  so  was  St.  Brigid  rejoiced,  when  she  had 
been  enabled  to  present  the  thirsting  multitude  of  poor,  with  beer  instead  of 
water,  thus  satisfying  both  their  requests  and  their  necessities.^^  Thus,  she 
seemed  never  to  tire  in  bestowing  largesses  on  the  poor  and  wretched. 

Once  it  happened,  there  had  been  a  want  of  bread,  in  a  place  where  St. 
Brigid  and  her  nuns  lived.  A  certain  well-disposed  and  benevolent  man,^7 
inhabiting  the  eastern  part  of  the  Liffy's  plain,  came  to  our  abbess.  He  re- 
quested Brigid  to  permit  some  of  her  daughters  to  return  with  him,  that  they 
might  bring*  back  measures  of  corn.  When  the  nuns  had  been  loaded  with 
his  gift,  and  had  set  out  on  their  journey  homewards,  the  Liffy  was  swollen 
beyond  its  banks,  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  could  not  pass  over,  neither 
boat  nor  bridge  affording  them  opportunity.  There  had  been  a  ford,  at  the 
usual  place  of  crossing.     This  men  and  animals  could  wade  over,  without 


*' The  author  of  our  saint's  Fifth  Life  re-  called  lepers.    See  Vita  Secunda  S.  Bri- 
marks,  en parenthese,  "nam  et  tunc  et  modo  gidas,  cap.  ix.,  p.  519.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri- 
balneis    tam    Hiberniensium    natio,    quam  gidae,  cap.  civ. ,  p,  540.   Vita  Quarta  S.  Bri- 
Scotorum  frequenter  uti  Solent."     Frequent  gidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxiii.,  Colgan's   "Trias 
allusions  are  made  to  this  custom,  in  the  Thaumaturga. "     This  and  other  miraculous 
acts  of  Irish  saints,  where  we  are  informed,  occurrences,  such  as  restoring  sight  to  one 
that  guests  in  the  monastic  institutes,  more  born   blind,    &c.,    are    mentioned    in    her 
especially,  had  baths  prepared  for  their  re-  various  offices.     See  "Chronica  Generalis 
ception.     It  is  likely,  moreover,  that  these  Mundi,"  Petrus  de  Natalibus,  as  also  various 
baths  were  much  used  in  private  families,  Acts  of  the  saint, 
at  a  very  early  period  of  our  social  existence,  '>^  St.  John  ii.,  I  to  1 1, 
as  a  people  ;  and,  the  Scotch  appear  to  have  *-^  See,   Colgan's    "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
followed  our  old  Irish  practice,  in  this  in-  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  xxxiv.,  xxxv., 
stance,  as  in  many  others.     The  custom,  p.  575.  Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidoe,  §  v.,  p.  583. 
thus    early  prevailing,    has    long  survived  Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  §  19,  p.  516. 
time's  changes  ;  and,  even  among  the  pea-          *■^  In  the  Sixth  Life  this  benefactor  of  St. 
sant  class  of  Irish,  at  this  present  day,  the  Brigid  is  called  a  noble,  and  it  is  said, 
practice  of  feet  bathing  in  warm  water,  be- 
fore retiring  to  rest  for  the  night,  is  a  very  "  Ille  dedit  pueris  saccos  similagine  plenos, 
common  one.     It  is  supposed  to  contribute  Virginis  ancillas  dunisitdeniqueonustas." 
very  much  to  health  and  to  bodily  refresh- 
ment, as  it  undoubtedly  does  to  comfort  and  From  this,  it  would  appear,  that  the  present 
to  cleanliness.  made  to  St.  Brigid  consisted  of  fine  flour, 
^3  St.  Matt,  vii.,  7.  which  her  nuns  carried  in  sacks.     It  is  pro- 
^  In  the  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Lives  bable,  those  religious  were  assisted  by  cer- 
of  our  Saint,  the  poor,  in  whose  favour  the  tain  boys,  as  mentioned,  when  they  set  out 
foregoing  miracle  had  been  wrought,  are  on  their  return. 

Vol,  II.  L 


146  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


much  difficulty,  except  in  time  of  floods.  The  nuns  then  sat  down  on  the 
river  bank,  and  invoked  St.  Brigid  to  aid  them,  at  this  juncture.  Imme- 
diately, they  were  all  transported  with  their  burdens  to  the  opposite  bank, 
through  St.  Brigid's  merits  and  the  power  of  God ;  but,  removed  by  what 
means,  or  in  what  manner,  remained  a  secret  to  them.  Coming  to  their 
superioress,  they  related  that  miracle  which  had  taken  place,  when  the  holy 
abbess  told  them,  to  conceal  it  from  the  world.'^^  Yet,  a  knowledge  of  this 
wonderful  incident  could  not  be  suppressed,  because  others  heard  about  it, 
before  Brigid  had  issued  her  mandate.  <9 

One  day,  a  certain  bishop,  with  a  large  retinue,  visited  the  abbess.  She 
was  unprovided,  at  the  time,  with  means  necessary  to  afford  refreshment  for 
such  a  large  number  of  persons.  The  Almighty,  however,  miraculously  and 
instantaneously  supplied  her  with  food,  sufficient  for  the  refection  of  her 
guests.  In  like  manner,  on  the  same  day,  two  other  bishops  arrived,  at 
different  hours.  Those  prelates  were  unexpected  visitors  to  our  saint.  Still 
refreshment  was  found  wondrously  provided  for  their  wants.5°  The  saintly 
abbess  had  a  cow,  which  gave  an  incredible  quantity  of  milk.  A  certain 
avaricious  man  entreated  her  to  make  him  a  present  of  that  animal.  With 
this  request,  Brigid  is  said  to  have  complied.  But,  before  the  man  had 
driven  the  cow  to  his  lands,  she  gave  no  more  milk  than  was  customary, 
with  other  animals  of  her  class.  Afterwards,  a  generous  man  bestowed 
another  cow  for  Brigid's  use.  Through  a  special  permission  of  Providence, 
this  beast  proved  equal  to  the  former,  in  giving  a  copious  supply  of  milk.s^ 

At  another  time,  a  woman  came  to  St.  Brigid,  saying  :  "  O  mother,  what 
shall  I  do,  regarding  this  son  of  mine  ?  For,  he  is  almost  an  al^ortion,  being 
blind  from  his  birth,  and  having  a  tabulated  face.s"  Hence,  his  father 
wished  to  deprive  him  of  life."  Compassionating  the  distress  of  this  woman, 
Brigid  ordered  the  child's  face  to  be  washed  in  water  that  was  near.  Then, 
all  former  blemishes  were  removed,  the  Almighty  restoring  him,  through  St. 
Brigid's  merits.  This  boy  was  called  Cretanus  or  Crimthann,53  and  he  lived 
for  a  long  time,  after  the  removal  of  his  deformity. 54 

The  following  incidents  are  alluded  to,  in  many  of  our  saint's  acts.  A 
certain  necessity  required  St.  Brigid's  presence,  in  one  of  her  fields,  and  in 
connection  with  the  interests  of  her  institution.  Knowing  the  boundless 
liberality  of  the  saint,  a  young  man,  addicted  to  pleasantry,  resolved  to  play 
off  a  joke  at  her  expense,  by  obtaining  under  false  pretences  one  of  her 
sheep,  that  grazed  on  the  pastures  around ;  although  rich,  and  having  no 


<8  See  At)bate  D.  Giacomo  Cettani's  "La  Life.     In  the  Third  Life,  thefe  iS  110  men* 

Santiti  Prodigiosa.       Vita  di   S.    Brigida  tion  about  the  second  cow  given  to   Sti 

Ibernese."    Libfo  Sesto,  pp.  502  to  504.  Brigid. 

_*9  See   Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga."  S"  Colgan  explains  the  expressions,  "ta- 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidce,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixix.,  bulatam  laciem,"  to  mean  a  iace,  plain  like 

J).  560.    Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidas,  cap.  xcviii.,  the  surface  of  a  table,  having  all  its  parts  of 

p.  539,  ?^?V/.     See,  also,  Vita  Sexta  S.  Bri-  equal  prominence,  and  of  featureless  defor* 

gidae,  sec.  Ix.,  p.  594,  ibid.  mity  ;  hence,  deprived  of  those  various  or* 

s"  See  the  Bollandists'  "Acta  Sanctorum,"  gans  of  sense,  to  be  found  in  more  regularly 

tomus  i.,  Februarii.      Vita  iv.  S.  Brigidae,  formed  features, 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  x.,  p.  169.  53  in  the  Third  Life,  he  is  called  Cretanus, 

s*  See  Colgan  s   "Trias  Thaumaturga."  and  of  him  it  is  very  unintelligibly  said, 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixx.,  "quem  affirmant  usque  ad  mortem  dolorem 

p.  560.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  ci.,  ccculorum  habuisse,  sed  turn  sanos  occulos 

p.  540,   ibid.     In  this  latter*  life,  the  mira-  semper  habebat." 

culous  supply  of  milk  is  said  to  have  occurred,  S4  gee,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 

inconsequenceof  the  arrival  of  three  bishops  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxi., 

and  their  companions,  most  probably  those  p.  560.     Vita  Tenia  S.  Brigidae,  cap,  cii, 

l^uests,  already  mentioned  in  the  Fourth  and  n,  49,  pp.  540,  545,  ibid. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  147 


real  necessity  to  appear  otherwise,  he  assumed  the  garments  and  disguise  of 
a  pauper. 55  Appearing  to  sustain  upon  a  staff  his  Umbs,  tottering  with  pre- 
tended infirmity  and  want,  he  approached  the  holy  abbess.  His  steps 
seemed  unsteady,  while  drawing  deep  sighs,  and  with  a  voice  broken  and 
resumed  only  at  intervals,  he  entreated  that  one  sheep  from  her  flock  should 
be  given  to  him.  An  appeal  of  the  kind  was  seldom  made  in  vain  to  St. 
Brigid ;  the  looks,  gestures,  and  habit  of  the  petitioner,  inducing  an  opinion  of 
his  extreme  poverty.  His  request  was  complied  with,  and  a  sheep  was  given, 
which  he  conveyed  to  a  suitable  hiding-place.  Encouraged  by  the  success 
of  this  sportive  experiment,  he  returned  again,  in  another  assumed  disguise 
and  habit.  Again,  he  pleaded  want  of  means  and  health ;  and,  again  he 
received  a  sheep  trom  the  abbess.  This  he  accepted  with  expressions  of 
thanks,  and  removed  it,  to  that  place,  in  which  he  had  left  the  other  animal. 
This  trick  was  repeated,  no  less  than  seven  different  times,  and  with  like  suc- 
cess. But,  God  would  not  permit  His  holy  servant  to  suifer  any  loss,  owing 
to  her  charitable  credulity,  nor  would  he  allow  the  young  man  to  derive  any 
advantage,  from  his  cunning  deception.  Those,  who  knew  that  St.  Brigid 
had  already  lessened  her  flock  by  seven  sheep,  were  surprised  to  find  the 
original  number  of  animals,  when  counted  in  tlie  evening.  So  boundless  was 
her  large-hearted  charity,  that  it  was  often  almost  undiscriminating.  Ihose 
sheep,  which  had  been  hidden  by  the  young  man,  were  not  tound  in  their 
place  of  concealment,  when  it  was  examined  jS^  so  that  the  jest,  he  practised 
upon  the  saint,  redounded  to  his  own  confusion  and  ridicule. 57  His  day's 
futile  labour  and  his  falsely-assumed  characters  were  made  a  subject  tor 
pleasantry,  and  directed  by  his  acquaintances  against  himself.  This  gave 
him  more  annoyance  than  the  loss  of  those  animals  he  had  surreptitiously 
acquired,  in  the  hope  of  creating  some  merriment  in  the  neighbournood.5<* 

The  illustrious  rehgieuse  exercised  a  mysterious  sway  over  wild  beasts  of 
the  forest,  and  birds  of  the  air. 59  The  following  circumstance  is  attributed 
to  the  all-subdumg  influences  of  the  gentle  lady's  virtues,  and  it  is  com- 
mended by  Cogitosus  to  the  attention  of  his  brethren,  for  whose  special 
edification  the  Acts  of  holy  Brigid  had  been  composed.  To  show  how  even 
irrational  animals  became  subject  to  her  will  and  words,  while  remaining  tame 
and  domesticated,  he  instances  a  wild  boar,  aflrighted  by  his  pursuers,  that 
fled  from  the  woods.  At  last,  that  boar  joined  a  herd  ol  swine,  belonging  to 
St.  Brigid.  Finding  him  among  her  own  animals,  with  her  blessing  the  saint 
caused  him  to  remain  there  in  security,  and  he  became  perfectly  domesti- 
cated.^°    One  day,  Brigid  saw  some  wild  ducks  swimming  in  a  river,  and 


55  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  S7  See  the  foregoing  account  in  Abbate 
St.  Brigid — where  this  story  is  noticed — this  D.  Giaconio  Certani's  "La  Sautita  Prodi- 
deceiver  is  called  a  thief.     See  pp.  4I,  42.  giosa."   Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese.    Libro 

5"  The  matter  is  thus  briefly  related,  in  Sesto,  pp.  504  to  507. 
the  First  Metrical  Life ;  according  to  the  ^a  Sucli  is  the  detailed  narrative,  as  fur- 
Latin  version  :  nished  in  the  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 

xlii.,  p.  577.      Colgau's  "  Trias  Thauma- 

"  Vir  importunus,  qui  postulavit  tuiga." 

A  Brigida  propter  amurem  Domini^  5^  This  is  alluded  to,  in  the  Bollandists* 

Accepit  septem  Verveces  ab  ea  :  "Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,    Februarii. 

Nee  grex  mde  fuit  diminutus."  Vita  ii.,  cap.  iv. 

''"See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 

—Vita  Prima  S.   Brigidae,  §   18,  p.  516.  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xix.,  p.  520. 

Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."     It  is  in  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cix.,  p.  540. 

like  manner  mentioned,  in  Vita  Secunda  S.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxiv., 

Brigidae,  cap.  viii.,  p.  519.     Tertia  Vita  S.  p.  560.     This  circumstance  is  thus  recorded 

Brigidae,  cap.  ciii.,  p.  540.  Quarta  Vita  S.  in  the  First  Metrical  Life,  according  to  thQ 

Jirigidae,  lib,  ii.,  cap.  Ixxii.,  p.  560,  ibid,  Latin  version  : 


148 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


occasionally  flying  through  the  air.^'  These  fowl  she  collected  around  her, 
in  great  numbers ;  for,  they  flocked  towards  her,  without  any  apparent  ap- 
prehension of  danger,  when  they  heard  this  holy  virgin's  gentle  voice  calling 
them.  For  some  time,  our  saint  caressed  them,  and  covered  them  with  her 
hand ;  atterwards,  she  allowed  their  return  to  their  feathered  companions.^* 

By  her  extraordinary  practices  of  piety,  Divine  power  Avas  manifested 
through  her,  in  the  following  instance.'^^  There  was  a  certain  very  strong 
man,  named  Lugid,  who  is  said  to  have  had  the  physical  strength  of  twelve 
ordinary  men,  while  his  appetite  for  food  was  proportionately  excessive. 
Lugid  asked  St.  Brigid  to  petition  God  in  his  behalf,  that  his  appetite  might 
be  restrained  within  reasonable  bounds,  while  yet  he  might  retain  his  bodily 
strength.  The  saint  complied  with  his  request,  and  gave  him  her  blessing.^^ 
Afterwards,  this  Lugid^^  was  content  with  a  quantity  of  food  usually  necessary 
for  the  support  of  an  ordinary  man,  while  his  strength^^  continued  equal  to 
the  united  bodily  prowess  of  twelve  labourers."^^ 

After  St.  Brigid  came  to  her  own  city,  certain  religious  men  visited  her, 
and  preached  the  Divine  Word,  in  her  presence.  Afterwards,  the  abbess 
told  her  cellarer  or  store-keeper^^  to  prepare  a  dinner  for  her  pious  guests. 
Asking  what  kind  of  a  meal  should  be  prepared,  she  Avas  told  by  Brigid,  to 
set  different  dishes  before  them.^9  But,  as  the  store-keeper  had  not  means 
for  complying  with  our  saint's  mandate,  she  requested  the  abbess  to  retire  to 
the  church  and  to  pray  there,  trusting  the  result  to  Divine  Providence.  As 
already  remarked,  such  had  been  the  boundless  charity  of  Brigid,  that  she 
immediately  distributed  to  those  in  need,  whatever  the  Almighty  bestowed 
on  her.     Well  knowing  the  real  state  of  affairs,  the  abbess  told  her  store- 


*'  Aper  solebat  venire  in  ejus  gregem, 
Versus  Aquilonem,  ubi  est  vallis  nunc: 
Quern  Brigida  baculo  benedixit  j 
At  cum  grege  jugiter  permansit." 

—Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  xxix.,  p.  516. 
This  miracle  is  alluded  to  in  our  saint's 
offices. 

'*  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  re- 
lates this  incident,  states,  that  over  these 
animals,  St.  Brigid  exercised  as  absolute  a 
dominion  as  could  our  first  parents  have 
practised  in  their  terrestrial  Paradise.  See 
"  La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Bri- 
gida  Ibemese."     Libro    Sesto,   pp.   516, 

*'See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcii., 
p.  562.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidee,"  cxxvii., 
p.  541.  This  miracle  seems  the  one  alluded 
to,  in  the  First  Life,  as  related  in  the  fol- 
lowing Latin  lines : 

"  Clarum  est  in  ejus  gestls, 
Quod  singularis  mater  fuerit  fUii  Regis 

magTii  [id  est,  Dei), 
Benedixit  avem  volatilem, 
Ita  ut  earn  apprebenderit  sua  manu.'* 

—Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidac,  sec.  xxxiii.,  p. 
517.  Also  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
Xxii.,  p.  521. 

^'  So  are  we  informed  by  Cogitosus. 

*♦  See  the  account  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo 


Certani's  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.    Vita  di 
S.  Brigida  Ibemese."      Libro  Sesto,  pp. 

513,  5H. 

"5  Surius,  concealing  the  name  of  Lugid, 
briefly  relates  this  mii-acle,  in  "De  Probatis 
Sanctorum  Historiis,"  &c.,  tomus  i.,  Febru- 
arius.    Vita  S.  Brigidre,  Virginis,  p.  809. 

^  By  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  he  is 
called  "vn  Sansone  Ibemese." 

"7  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xxiv.,  p. 
521.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigjidae,  cap.  ex.,  p. 
540.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 
Ixxv.,  p.  560.  In  the  First  Metrical  Life, 
this  miracle  is  thus  introduced  : 

"  Quantas  fecerit  virtu tes, 

NuUus  est  qui  referre  posset  plene. 
Prceclarum  qualiter  minuerit  edacitatem 

Lugadii 
Pugilis,  et  ejus  non  extinxit  vires. " 

—Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  34,  p.  517. 

^^  In  the  Fourth  Life  of  our  saint,  she  is 
called,  "Cellaria,"  and  in  the  Third 
"Coqua."  These  and  similar  incidental 
notices,  in  the  legends  of  our  saints,  serve 
to  give  us  an  idea,  regarding  various  officials 
connected  with  ancient  monasteries  and 
nunneries,  or  relating  to  their  domestic 
economy. 

^  In  the  Third  Life,  we  read,  that  Brigid 
said  to  her,  "  Give  them  bread  and  butter, 
with  several  dishes  of  meat  and  onions," 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


149 


keeper  to  go  into  the  cellar,  and  to  mark  it  with  a  sign  of  the  cross,  to  close 
it,  and  on  her  return  to  pray,  while  herself  entered  the  church.7°  About  the 
sixth  hour,7^  the  abbess  called  her  store-keeper^*  and  said,  "  The  time  for 
waiting  on  our  guests  has  arrived  ;  go  now  to  the  cellar, 73  and  liberally  give 
them,  whatsoever  you  may  find  there."  Opening  it,  the  store-keeper  found 
in  the  cellar  all  those  different  kinds  of  food,  mentioned  by  St.  Brigid.  And 
these  various  viands  lasted  during  seven  entire  days,  serving  as  refreshments, 
not  only  for  the  guests,  but  even  for  the  whole  religious  community,  as  also 
for  the  poor. 74  At  that  time,  no  persons  living  in  the  nunnery,  save  only  the 
abbess  and  her  store-keeper,  knew  whence  came  those  provisions,  nor  who 
had  provided  them.7s  A  knowledge  of  this  miraculous  occurrence  remained 
among  the  secrets  of  Divine  Omnipotence. 7^ 

It  is  said,  our  saint  was  at  a  certain  place,  where  there  were  many  rivulets, 
yet  unprovided  with  water-herbs, 77  that  usually  grow  in  a  natural  state  on 
streams  supplied  by  fountains.73  While  there,  a  band  of  holy  virgins,  be- 
longing to  the  place,  came  to  visit  and  to  ask  her  a  question.  They  say  to 
her :  "  Why,  O  mother,  do  not  the  water-herbs,79  on  which  holy  men  are 
accustomed  to  live,  grow  in  those  waters  ?"  ^°  The  holy  abbess,  knowing 
that  they  desired  a  growth  of  such  herbs  there,  spent  the  following  night  in 
vigil  and  prayer.^^     On  rising  the  succeeding  morning,  those  religious  found 


7°  In  the  Third  Life,  the  account  runs  a 
little  differently,  as  follows  :  Brigid  said  to 
the  cook,  "sweep  the  kitchen  pavement, 
close  the  cook-house  ;  then  go  to  thine  own 
house,  and  pray  in  it ;  I  will  go  to  the 
church."  This  shows,  that  the  inmates  of 
St.  Brigid's  establishment  lived  in  separate 
houses  or  cells,  probably  grouped  together 
around  the  church — the  usual  ancient  Irish 
monastic  arrangement. 

T^  From  the  manner,  in  which  this  is  re- 
lated, it  would  seem,  the  sixth  hour  was 
the  time  usually  set  apart  for  the  dinner  of 
these  guests  ;  perhaps,  too,  it  was  the  hour 
for  the  conventual  meal. 

7=*  So  called  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  our 
saint,  but  designated  "the  cook"  in  the 
Third  Life. 

73  In  the  Fourth  Life,  we  read  that  she 
was  directed  to  this  place,  but  in  the  Third 
Life,  she  was  ordered  to  the  cook-house  or 
kitchen. 

T<  From  this  narrative  and  in  similar  ac- 
counts, we  may  well  infer,  how  large  and 
bountiful  were  the  distributions  of  food, 
made  to  the  destitute,  in  our  early  monastic 
institutes. 

7S  This  miracle  is  recorded  in  Abbate  D. 
Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quin- 
to,  pp.  417  to  419. 

7^  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Iv., 
p.  558.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidas,  cap.  Ixxxii., 
P-  537>  ibi'i-  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidce,  sect. 
xlix.,  p.  593,  ibid. 

77  Most  probably,  these  herbs  were  of  the 
species,  known  as  "water- cresses."  The 
Fourth  Life  of  our  saint  adds,  that  many 
saints  who  were  accustomed  to  fast  with 
extreme  rigour  in  the  western  parts,  usually 


fed  on  such  herbs.  And  in  the  Sixth  Life, 
it  is  said,  that  these  holy  men, 

"  Frigida  cum  crispis  sumebant  pocula  et 
herbis. " 
7^  In  the  beautiful  lines  of  John  Fraser  on 
"The  Holy  Wells,"  we  have  the  following 
appropriate  allusions : — 

"  The  cottage  hearth,  the  convent  wall,  the 

battlemented  tower, 
Grew  up  around  the  crystal  springs,  as 

well  as  flag  and  flower  ; 
The  brooklime  and  the  water-cress  were 

evidence  of  health. 
Abiding  in  those  basins,  free  to  poverty 

and  wealth." 

—Edward  Hayes'  "Ballads  of  Ireland," 
vol.  i.,  p.  7. 

79  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 
Santita  Prodigiosa,  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  419  to  421. 
There  these  herbs  are  called  "  Cauoli  Ac- 
quatici,"  in  the  Itahan  language. 

^°  In  reference  to  the  different  species  of 
herbs,  mentioned  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  our 
saint,  Colgan  endeavours  to  explain  their 
nature  in  a  note.  "Per  Biisia  videtur  in- 
telligere  genus  aquatici  oleris,  quod  Hiber- 
nice  dicitur  Biorar  &  Latine  anasturtium 
aquaticum,  quo  passim  Eremitse  istius  tem- 
poris  &  Patrice  vescebantur  :  per  Sampsia, 
quid  intelligat,  nescio,  nisi  forte  herbam 
quam  Latini  vocant  sampsychum,  &  aliis 
nominibus  vocatur  amartiais  &  niaiorana; 
vel  aliam,  quam  Hiberni  vocant  Samhadh^ 
Latini  vero,  acce/osatn.''^ — N.  16,  p.  566. 

^'  Seethe  Bollandists'  "Acta  Sanctorum," 
tomus  i.,  Februarii.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Bri- 
gidse, lib.  ii.,  cap.  viii.,  p.  167. 


J50  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i, 


the  rivulets  filled  with  such  herbs,^"  while  others  grew  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance around,  and  where  they  had  not  hitherto  been  seen.  This  abundant 
growth  of  water-cresses^3  was  granted  by  God  to  St.  Brigid's  prayers.^^  The 
fame  of  our  glorious  virgin  had  already  extended  to  very  distant  places. 
Certain  men,  wishing  to  recommend  themselves  to  her  good  offices,  came 
from  afar,  and  brought  with  them  many  presents  on  horses  and  in  waggons.^s 
But,  on  that  day,  when  they  expected  to  have  arrived,  those  travellers  entered 
thick  woods,  where  night  fell  upon  them.  So  dark  were  its  shades,  that  their 
waggons  could  not  be  driven  through  the  forest,  and  they  went  astray  in  an 
unknown  place.  However,  the  holy  Brigid  had  some  prophetic  intuition 
regarding  their  distress.  Praying  to  God  for  them,  she  told  her  nuns  to 
kindle  a  fire,  and  to  warm  some  water,  that  the  feet  of  guests  she  expected 
this  night  might  be  washed.  Her  nuns  wondered  at  her  saying,  that  men 
were  journeying  through  the  darkness  on  this  particular  night.  Meanwhile, 
a  great  light  appeared  to  the  travellers.  Its  glow  illuminated  their  path,  until 
they  arrived  at  St.  Brigid's  monastery.^^  The  holy  virgin  went  out  to  meet 
them,  when  all  gave  thanks  to  God.  Having  accomplished  the  object  of 
their  visit,  and  after  staying  three  days,  the  travellers  resumed  their  return 
journey,  by  that  same  road  they  had  previously  traversed.  Such  was  the 
roughness  or  intricacy  of  their  passage,  that  they  had  much  difficulty,  even 
in  the  day-time,  to  draw  their  empty  waggons  along.^7  Yet,  on  account  of 
St.  Brigid's  prayers,  Christ  himself  caused  the  rough  places  to  become 
smooth,  on  the  night  of  their  journey,  while  miraculous  light  guided  them 
on  the  way.^^  This  incident  reads  very  much  like  that  previously  related 
regarding  Bishop  Broon  and  his  companions. 

Previous  to  the  residence  of  a  bishop  at  Kildare,  a  priest,  named  Nat- 
froich,^y  was  charged  with  the  performance  of  clerical  duties  for  the  religious 
inmates  of  the  nunnery.  He  became  St.  Brigid's  frequent  and  confidential 
companion.  He  was  accustomed  to  read  passages  from  some  religious  book, 
whenever  the  community  assembled  at  their  meals.  From  such  circum- 
stances, which  are  recorded  in  different  lives  of  our  saint,  it  is  quite  probable, 
that  this  priest  was  spiritual  director  of  the  abbess  and  of  her  nuns  ;  and,  we 
are  told,  that  he  remained  with  the  holy  woman,  during  his  whole  lifetime. 
Natfroich,  after  his  ordination,  became  chaplain  to  St.  Brigid  and  to  her  nuns, 


'"  The  Fourth  Life  has  it,  that  the  rivulets  miracle    is    also    mentioned    in    the  Vita 

were  "supra  modum  illis  oleribus  plenos,  Sexta  S.   Brigidse,  section  1.,  p.  593,  ibid. 

i.e.y  Brisia  et  caeteris  oleribus  abundantes."  In  this  latter,  it  is  said,  she  cured  many 

"3  The  water-cress,  which  grows  in   our  .    lepers  and  sick,   as   also  blind  and  lame 

brooks  and  rivulets,  is  a  well-known  aquatic  persons. 

plant,  and  it  forms  an  excellent  and  a  whole-  ^s  See  the  Bollandists'  "Acta  Sanctorum," 

some  salad.    Its  flowers  are  white,  and  they  tomus  i.,  Februarii.     Vita  Quarta  S.  Bri- 

appear   in    July.       See    James    Townsend  gidee,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  viii.,  p.  168. 

Mackay's    "  Flora    Hibernica,    comprising  ^  The  Third  Life  says,  that  it  appeared 

the  flowering  Plants  Ferns  Characeoe  Musci  only  to  the  chief  man,  among  these  travellers. 

Hepaticae  Lichenses  and  Algse  of  Ireland  In  her  Sixth  Life,   he  is   called    "prsesul 

arranged  according  to  the  natural  system,  venerabilis,"  or  a  '*  venerable  bishop." 

with  a  synopsis  of  the  Genera,  according  to  ^^  See   this   narrative   also   set    forth    in 

the  Linnaean  System."     Vasculares.     Class  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Santit^ 

I.      Sub-class    I.      Order  6,   pp.    17,    18.  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 

Dublin,  1836,  8vo.  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  421  to  424, 

^*  The  writer  of  the  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigi-  ^s  g^g   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

dse,   lib.   ii.,   cap.  Ivi.,  p.  558,  adds,  that  Quarta  Vila  S.   Brigidre,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ivii., 

there  herbs  of  the  same  species  did  not  fail  pp.  158,  159,    Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 

to  grow  in  his  time  through  the  blessing  of  Ixxxiv.,  pp.  537,  538,  ibid. 

God  and  of  St.    Brigid.      See   also,   Vita  ^s  See  an  account  of  this  saint  at  the  nth 

Tertia   S.  Brigidae,   cap.  Ixxxiii.,    p.   537.  of  December,  the  date  set  down  for  his 

Colgan's      "Trias   Thaumaturga."     This  feast. 


J'EBRUARV  I.]        LIVES  OF  THE  lEISH  SAINTS,  151 


for  whom  he  often  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  other  pious  books.  By 
appointment  of  St.  Patrick,  he  attended  on  her  during  her  travels,  while  he 
frequently  acted  in  the  capacity  of  charioteer.  Being  thus  engaged,  the 
following  recorded  incident  took  place.s°  On  a  certain  day,  when  the  pre- 
sence of  our  saint  was  necessary,  at  a  great  congregation,  she  proceeded  to 
the  spot  in  a  chariot,  drawn  by  two  horses. 9^  AVe  are  told,  in  St.  Brigid's 
Third  Life,  that  the  abbess — most  probably  on  this  occasion — was  proceeding 
to  the  plain  of  the  Liffy,  and  that  another  holy  virgin  sat  with  her,  in  the 
chariot.  The  charioteer,  who  was  with  them,  had  been  desired  to  instruct 
his  travelling  companions.9»  The  better  to  make  himself  heard,  he  turned 
his  head  over  his  shoulder.  Then  said  the  abbess,  "  Turn  round  that  we 
may  hear  better,  and  throw  down  the  reins."  So  her  chaplain  cast  the  reins 
over  the  front  of  the  chariot,  and  addressed  his  discourse  to  them,  with  his 
back  to  the  horses.  One  of  these  slipped  its  neck  from  the  yoke,  and  ran 
free ;  yet,  so  engrossed  were  Bridget  and  her  companion,  in  the  sermon  of 
the  priestly  charioteer,  they  did  not  observe  that  the  horse  was  loose,  and  that 
the  carriage  was  running  all  on  one  side.93  This  happened  at  the  edge  of  a 
very  dangerous  precipice.  The  King  of  Leinster  is  said  to  have  witnessed 
the  whole  occurrence,?^  from  a  high  hill.ss  Although  at  a  distance,  he  knew 
St.  Brigid's  chariot.9°  Finally,  breaking  his  traces,  the  animal  ran  through 
the  adjoining  fields,  in  an  affrighted  manner.  By  a  manifest  interposition  of 
Divine  Providence,  however,  the  saint  escaped  danger,  and  she  continued  her 
journey  with  one  horse ;  another  account  informs  us,  the  other  horse  got  once 
more  into  the  traces.97  The  saint  safely  reached  the  place  for  assembly. 
Here,  Brigid  exhorted  the  people,  by  pious  admonitions ;  while  the  rumour 
of  her  danger  and  subsequent  escape  having  reached  them,  the  minds  of  all 
present  were  filled  with  admiration  and  rejoicing.92 

Her  prescience  and  spirit  of  prophecy  were  among  the  most  remarkable 
gifts  of  the  abbess.  On  a  certain  day,  when  the  glorious  Brigid  went  from 
her  monaster)^,  in  the  Liffy  plains,  towards  a  place  some  little  distance  re- 
moved from  it,  in  a  easterly  direction,  a  young  student,  who  was  the  son  of 
Ethach,99  and  from  a  country  called  Mulus,^°°  met  her  on  the  way.  When 
he  saw  our  saint,  this  student  began  to  race,  with  all  the  giddiness  and 
vivacity  of  a  school-boy.  St.  Brigid  told  one  of  her  nuns  to  call  him  towards 
her,  but  scarcely  could  this  youth,  named  Ninnid,  be  induced  to  approach 


5°  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  that  St.  Conlaid  had  first  paid  her  a  visit. 

Santita    Prodigiosa.      Vita   di    S.    Brigida  Then  follows  an  account,   concerning  the 

Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  287  to  290.  saint's  journey  in  her  chariot,  accompanied 

5'  See  Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  by  some  of  her  companions.     It  is  added, 

Vita   Secunda   S.   Brigidse,   cap.  xviii.,   p.  that  the  miracle  occurred  on  the  return  of 

520.     Also  "  Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,"  sec.  St.  Brigid  to  her  establishment,  after  having 

28,  p.  516,  ibid.  visited  the  house  of  a  certain  holy  virgin. 

_9^  See  "Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,"  cap.  See  "Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigid^,"  sees,  xliii., 

lii.,  p.  532,  ibid.  xliv.,  pp.  591,  592."*  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

93  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "  Lives  of  9'  The    Abbate    D.     Giacomo    Certani 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  I  February,  p.  18.  writes  :   "  Hebbe  costui  per  Padre  Eocadio, 

5*  See  "  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,"  lib.  ii.,  b  vero  Eutichio,  come  alcuni  scriuono,  che 

cap.  xxi.,  pp.  552,  553.      Colgan's  "Trias  fu  Figliuolo  d'Aido  vno  de  Figliuoli  di  Lio- 

Thaumaturga."  gario." — "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

95  Probably  from  one  of  those  eminences,  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto,  p.  489. 

now  known  as  "the  Red  Hills  of  Kildare."  ^°°  Colgan  observes  in  a  note,  that  there 

9*  See   the   Bollandists'    "Acta    Sancto-  is  an  island  in  Albanian  Scotia,  which  is 

rum,"  tomus  i,,  Februarii.     Vita  Quarta  S.  called  Mule  or  Mula.    Ninnidius  spent  some 

Brigidas,  lib.  ii,,  cap,  iii.,  p.  162.  time  in  Britain.    Perhaps,  he  dwelt  there  as 

97  According  to  the  Third  Life.  a  permanent  resident,  and  may  be  properly 

9^  In  the  Sixth  Metrical  Life,  it  is  said,  designated  as  "de  partibus  Muli," 


152  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


the  abbess.  When  he  did,  however,  she  asked  him,  whither  he  was  running, 
in  such  haste.  He  immediately  repHed  :  "  It  is  my  duty  to  enter  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  and  towards  that  I  ran."  The  abbess  said :  "  Would  that  I 
were  worthy  to  run  with  you  this  day  towards  God's  kingdom,  but  pray  for 
me,  brother,  that  I  may  enter  that  realm  of  bliss."  '°^  The  scholar  returned  : 
"  O  saint,  do  you  in  like  manner  entreat  the  Almighty,  that  my  course  towards 
the  heavenly  kingdom  be  a  constant  one.  In  requital,  I  will  pray  for  you, 
with  many  other  persons,  that  you  may  attain  immortal  happiness."  Then, 
St.  Brigid  prayed  for  him.  Ninnid  became  filled  with  the  grace  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  he  performed  penance.  This  youth  was  a  son  to  Ethach,  and  he 
was  from  the  country,  called  Mulus.  He  then  began  and  continued  to  be 
a  religious  person  to  the  very  date  of  his  death. ^°"  He  is  ranked,  also,  among 
the  most  distinguished  of  our  Irish  saints.  ^°3 

To  this  young  student,  St.  Brigid  then  said  :  "  On  the  day  of  my  death, 
I  shall  receive  Communion  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
from  thy  hand."  St.  Ninnidius  replied :  "  Would  that  thou  couldst  live 
until  thou  receivest  Holy  Eucharist  from  me."  These  words  he  spoke, 
because  he  wished  at  this  time  to  become  a  pilgrim.  For  a  long  time,  he 
desired  to  be  absent,  so  that  he  might  not  soon  again  see  the  saint,  and  that 
she  might  live  to  an  extreme  old  age.  Probably,  on  some  subsequent  oc- 
casion, mutually  bestowing  a  blessing  on  each  other,  and  commending  them- 
selves respectively  to  God,  with  words  of  religious  wisdom,  they  separated, 
each  of  them  taking  a  different  destination.  From  the  day  Brigid  spoke  to 
him,  Nennid  wished  to  preserve  from  defilement  that  hand,  which  she  had 
predicted  should  minister  to  her  the  august  Viaticum  on  the  day  of  her 
death.  Hence,  we  are  told,  he  put  on  it  a  close-fitting  brass  gauntlet, 
secured  with  a  lock  and  key,  so  that  his  hand  should  not  be  able  to  touch 
his  body,  nor  be  touched  by  any  unclean  thing.  Thence,  his  cognomen  was 
derived  ;  for,  in  the  Scotic  dialect  he  was  called,  Niimidh  laffiglan^^°^  which 
in  English  is  interpreted,  "  Ninnidius  of  the  clean  hand."  Afterwards,  the 
great  Father  of  our  Irish  Church  caused  him  to  be  ordained,  although  he 
was  humbly  reluctant  to  assume  the  sacredotal  office,'°5  lest  he  might  be 
called  a  great  priest,  according  to  the  inspired  writings.^°^  This  Ninnidius 
sailed  over  to  the  country  of  the  Britons,  wishing  to  become  an  exile  from 
Ireland,  for  a  long  period,  as  he  knew  St.  Brigid's  prediction  must  be  ful- 
filled.'°7    When  Ninnidius  entered  the  ship,  he  is  said  to  have  cast  the  key 


*"  See  the  whole  of  this  account  in  the  arii.     Vita  S.  Nennidhii,  n,  17,  p.  115. 

Bollandists' "  Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  "^  The  meaning  must  be,  that  this  humble 

Februarii.    Vita  Quarta  S.   Brigidce,   cap.  diffidence,  regarding  the  responsibilities  at- 

IX.  tached  to  his  sacred  calling,  caused  Nenni- 

"*  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  dius  to  hesitate  at  first,  until  the  persuasions 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixi.,  of  pious  persons  and  his  own  sense  of  a 

L559.    Also,  Vita  Ter|ia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  Divine  call  induced  him  no  longer  to  resist 

viii.,  p.  537,  ibid.  heaven's  designs  in  his  vocation. 

"3  In  a  note  to  this  latter  Life,  Colgan  '°^  Allusion  is  probably  made  to  Ecclesi- 

adds,  he  was  the  same  St.  Neilnius  or  Nen-  asticus,  xliv.,  15. 

nidius,  whose  Acts  he  published  at  the  1 8th  '°7  The    Abbate    D.    Giacomo    Certani, 

of  January  in  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiberniae,"  with  much  circumlocution,  has  an  account 

xviii.  Januarii.     See  Vita  S.  Nennidhii,  seu  of  the  foregoing  and  many  extraneous  cir- 

Nennii,  pp.  Ill  to  115.  cumstances,    in    "La   Santiti    Prodigiosa. 

'°'*  Colgan  refers  us  to  notes,  which  were  Vita  di  S.  I3rigida  Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto, 

appended  to   St.   Nennidius'  Acts,   at  the  pp.  488  to  502. 

1 8th  of  January,  for  certain  observations  on  ^^  This  narrative  ends  with  an  account, 

this  derivation.      The   Latin   form   of  his  that  the  miracles  and  incidents  of  Ninnid's 

name  is  Nennidius   vianus   inundce.      See  closing  years  were  to  be  found  in  an  old  Life 

"Acta  Sanctorum  Hibernise,"  xviii.  Janu-  of  him  which  had  been  written.      See  Vita 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,  153 


of  his  manacled  hand  into  the  deep,  that  it  might  not  be  recovered  again  for 
any  accomplishment  of  its  purpose.'"^  But,  as  the  Scripture  declares,  no 
wisdom  or  prudence  or  counsel  can  oppose  the  Almighty's  designs.  And 
so  the  event  is  said  to  have  accorded  with  S^.  Brigid's  prediction. ^°9  How- 
ever, it  must  be  observed,  that  some  of  the  foregoing  circumstances  are 
manifestly  the  concoction  of  legend-mongers,  and  are  inconsistent  with  a 
supposition,  that  Ninnidh  could  have  efficiently  discharged  the  duties  of  his 
priesthood  under  the  conditions,  which  have  been  related. 

As  the  Abbess  Brigid's  establishment  increased  in  importance,  the  city 
of  Kildare  grew,  likewise,  in  a  corresponding  ratio.  Revolving  in  mind  a 
necessity  that  appeared  to  exist,  for  the  residence  of  a  bishop  there,  to  obtain 
the  object  of  her  desires,  our  saint  made  application  to  some  of  the  Irish 
prelates.  Her  petitions  appear  to  have  been  favourably  received,  for,  she 
had  the  nomination  of  Kildare's  first  bishop  ;"°  a  privilege,  which  the  other 
prelates  might  have  allowed,  on  account  of  her  exalted  merits,  and  those 
services  which  she  had  rendered  to  rehgion  in  that  portion  of  the  province, 
where  she  presided  in  her  capacity  of  abbess."^  It  is  stated,  also,  that  the 
bishop  appointed,  in  conjunction  with  herself,  exercised  jurisdiction  over  all 
houses  of  her  order,  throughout  Ireland.  Some  difficulties  exist,  in  sup- 
posing the  Bishop  of  Kildare  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  nuns,  living  outside 
his  immediate  bishopric ;  for,  although  named  Archbishop  of  the  Irish 
Bishops, "2  yet,  it  is  also  well  known,  that  the  Irish  Primacy  had  never  been 
transferred  from  Armagh  to  Kildare.  With  her  usual  discrimination,  the 
person,  selected  by  Brigid  to  assume  the  episcopacy,  was  a  holy  man,  named 
Conleath."3  He  lived  the  life  of  a  cellule  recluse,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  Liffey  plain.  At  what  particular  period  this  consecration  of  Conleath 
took  place,  we  have  no  means  for  determining  ;"4  yet,  we  must  suppose,  some 
years  had  elapsed,  from  the  estabHshment  of  the  community  at  Kildare, 
before  its  erection  into  a  see,  and  the  consequent  appointment  of  a  bishop."^ 

That  St.  Brigid  exercised  a  certain  degree  of  jurisdiction  over  the  Bishop 
of  Kildare  who  was  her  contemporary,"^  and  that  the  abbesses,  who  were 
her  successors,  retained  such  jurisdiction  over  the  abbots  and  bishops  of  the 
see,  have  been  supposed.  This  state  of  affairs,  however,  is  so  repugnant  to 
the  spirit  of  church  discipline,  in  all  ages,  and  even  unsupported  by  any  re- 
liable authorities,  on  the  subject,  that  we  can  have  no  hesitation  in  rejecting 
such  supposition.    We  rather  prefer  coinciding  with  an  explanation  offered,"^ 

Quarta  S.  Brigidce,  lib.  ii.,  cap,  Ixii.,  Ixiii.,  "'  See  Rev.  M.  J.  Brenan's  *'Ecclesias- 

PP-  559.  560.     Colgan's  "Trias  Thauma-  tical  History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  iii.,  p.  51. 

turga."     Also  n.  18,  p.  <^66,  ibid.  ^"  •' Archiepiscopus  Hiberniensium  Epis- 

^°5  In  the  Fifth  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  an  ac-  coporum."  —  Colgan's  "Trias  _  Thauma- 
count  given,  regarding  the  foregoing  inci-  turga."  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae.  Pro- 
dents,  is  somewhat  different,  and  interpo-  logus,  p.  518. 

lated,  it  would  appear,   with  observations  "3  See  his  Life  at  the  3rd  of  May. 

and  interpretations,  not  found  in  more  an-  "4  In  the   "Life  of  St.   Brigid,"  by  an 

cient  authorities.  It  is  there  said,  that  Ninnid.  Irish  Priest,  it  is  stated,   this   event   took 

exiled  himself,  at  the  request  of  St.  Brigid ;  place,  about  the  year  490,  and  probably  in 

that  he  went  to  Rome  to  visit  the  shrines  the  Church  of  Kildare.     See  chap,  vi.,  p. 

of  the  holy  Apostles  ;  and,  that  he   spent  74. 

four  years  as  a  pilgrim,  when  he  was  warned  "^  See  the  Italian  "Breviarium  Gienen- 

by  an  angel  of  God  to  return  into  Ireland.  sis,"  lect.  ii.,  where  it  is  said,  Bishop  Con- 

This  order  he  is  said  to  have  obeyed,  finding  leath  was  appointed  by  her  to  consecrate 

St,  Brigid,  at  the  point  of  death,  on  his  ar-  churches,  he  having  been  taken  from  the 

rival.     Soon  after,  giving  her  Communion,  desert. 

the  holy  priest  himself  was  gathered  to  his  "°  This  is  an  opinion,  entertained  by  Col- 
fathers,     See  Quinta  Vita  S,  Brigidse,  cap.  gan, 
Ivii.,  Iviii.,  pp.  581,  582,  idid.  "7  p,y  Dr.  Lanigan. 

"°  As  Cogitosus  remarks.  "°  By  Cogitosus. 


!54  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS,       [February  i, 


to  account  for  this  presumed  anomaly.  It  has  been  conjectured — and  with 
every  appearance  of  credibiHty — that,  as  the  church  of  Kildare  had  been 
built  from  funds  supplied  by  the  monastery,  and  as  its  community,  besides 
holding  possession  of  a  proprietory  right  and  title,  appears  to  have  been  at 
the  expense  of  providing  requisites  for  religious  worship  ;  it  is  only  reason- 
able to  imagine,  that  the  church,  which  was  used  as  a  cathedral,  had  been 
under  joint  management  both  of  the  bishop  and  of  the  abbess.  And  this 
supposition  is  furthermore  confirmed,  by  what  is  related  in  St.  Brigid's  Life"^ 
where  we  read,  that  she  bestowed  some  very  costly  vestments"^  which  were 
used  by  Conleath  on  the  festivals  of  our  Lord,  and  on  those  of  the  Apostles, 
while  engaged  offering  up  the  Divine  Mysteries. "°  It  is  almost  certain, 
however,  that  our  saint,  on  account  of  her  singular  prerogatives  and  virtues, 
exercised  a  special  jurisdiction,  and  enjoyed  an  extraordinary  pre-eminence, 
over  all  the  religious  women  of  her  day  in  Ireland."^  Not  only  Cogitosus, 
but  several  other  writers,  will  be  found,  applying  epithets  to  St.  Brigid,  which 
indicate  her  exalted  station  and  superiority,"'  at  least  in  some  correlative 
sense.  Thus,  as  the  representative  of  Irish  female  religious,  St.  Brigid  ranks 
foremost  ;"3  as  St.  Columkille  represents  the  highest  order  of  male  mona- 
chism,  and  as  St.  Patrick  crowns  the  hierarchy ;  so  these  sacred  three  are 
united  in  popular  veneration  and  in  a  supreme  degree. 


CHAPTER     XI. 

ST.  brigid's  benignity  and  prudence— rewards  miraculously  bestowed  on  the 

POOR  AND  ON  HER  ENTERTAINERS — ST.  HINNA— MIRACULOUS  OCCURRENCES — ST. 
DARIA's  SIGHT  PARTIALLY  RESTORED— FAITH  IN  ST.  BRIGID'S  INTERCESSION 
JUSTIFIED. 

The  benignant  Brigid  regarded  her  religious  daughters  and  her  pupils  with 
true  affection  ;  the  servants  and  labourers,  about  her  establishment,  she  in- 
dulged as  members  of  her  own  family.^  Seldom  when  correcting  faults  did 
she  use  terms  of  reproach ;  but,  always  considering  the  most  practical  means 
for  removing  evil  to  be  the  healing  of  a  sinner's  soul,  her  action  was  deemed 
more  important  than  even  her  charitable  direction  or  advice.     She  knew 


"9 See  Abbate D.  Giacomo Certani's  "La  "'  wSee  ibid.,  Cogitosus  or  Secunda  Vita 

Santitk   Prodigiosa.      Vita    di    S.    Brigida  S.  Brigidaj.    In  Prologo,  and  in  cap.  xxxvi., 

Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  p.  539.  pp.  518,  524.     The  Bishop  of  Ossory,  in  his 

"°  "  Nam  vestimenta  transmarina  et  pere-  "Dissertation  on  St.  Brigid,"  has  similar 

grina  Episcopi  Conleath  decorati  himinis,  remarks,  in  the  commencement  of  his  trea- 

quibus,    solemnitatibus  Domini,   et  vigiUis  tise,  p.  I.     See  Appendix  Secunda  ad  Acta 

Apostolorum  sacra  in  altaribus  ofiferens  my-  S.  l^>rigida>.,  sec.  xxxix.,  p.  608,  ibid. 

steria  utebatur,  pauperibus  largita  est." —  "3  According  to  David  Roth. 

Cogitosus  or  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  Chapter  xi. — '  Such  is  the  account  as 

xxix.,  p.  522.     Colgan's  "Trias  Thauma-  furnished  by  the  metrical  panegyrist,  in  these 

lurga.'^  lines  : — 

"'  In  the  **  Breviarium  Gienensis,"  it  is 

said,  from  all  the  provinces  of  Ireland,  that  **  Qualis    erat    pueris,   famulis,   hxc    ipsa 

a  great  multitude  flocked  to  her  monastery,  puellis 

"  quod  est  caput  pene  Hiberniensium  Eccle-  Talis  amore  pio  cunctis  pulcherrima  virgo 

siarum,  id  est,   Scotorum."     Again:  "  Et  Pauperibus  fuerat  et  miseris,  larga  pu- 

ipsa  puellarum  mater  extitit,  ut  amborum  pillis." 
meritis  Hiberniensis  insula  Christo  devotis- 

sime  serviret,"  lect.  i.,  iii.     See  idid.     Ap-  Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."      Sexta 

pendix  Prima  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidce,  p.  601.  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  v.,  p.  583. 


February  l]      LIVES  QF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS  \%% 

how  to  compassionate  the  weakness  of  others.'  She  sought  to  repair  im- 
prudence and  crime,  without  causing  scandal  or  exposing  the  dehnquent. 
An  instance  of  such  thoughtful  interposition  occurs,  in  the  case  of  a  certain 
young  person,  bound  by  a  religious  vow.3  The  result  was  a  reward  for  that 
merciful  interference ;  as  the  person  became  penitent.'*  And,  because  all 
things  are  rendered  possible,  on  the  ground  of  unwavering  faith,5  so  was  the 
life  of  St.  Brigid  daily  illustrated  by  miracles.  Thus,  as  various  poor  and 
infirm  creatures  visited  her,  to  have  their  several  wants  supplied,  it  happened 
on  one  occasion,  that  she  afforded  relief  to  a  person,  who  required  the  useful 
condiment  of  salt,  which  was  procured  in  a  supernatural  manner.^ 

The  following  two  miraculous  incidents,  attributed  to  our  saint,  are  thus 
related. 7  While  her  mind  was  elevated  to  the  contemplation  of  heavenly 
subjects,  as  was  her  frequent  habit,  the  things  of  earth  were  altogether  for- 
gotten. Such  being  the  case,  on  a  certain  occasion,  and  most  probably  while 
engaged  about  some  culinary  affairs,  a  dog  removed  a  large  piece  of  bacon. 
When  sought,  this  was  not  to  be  found,  in  its  usual  storing  place ;  but,  after 
a  month  had  expired,  it  was  discovered,  whole  and  untouched,  in  the  kennel. 
That  dog  durst  not  eat  this  food,  belonging  to  Brigid,  and  his  natural 
appetite,  for  so  long  a  period,  seemed  restrained  by  some  wonderful  and 
inexplicable  intervention.^  In  season  and  out  of  season,  St.  Brigid's  bounty 
had  been  taxed  by  the  importunities  of  poor  persons,  and  her  charities 
seemed  exhaustless,  while  the  fame  of  her  miracles  still  caused  many  destitute 
persons  to  approach  her  every  day.  Among  these,  a  poor  person,  in  need 
of  alms,  had  been  sent  by  the  saint  to  her  servants,  who  were  engaged  in 
cooking  flesh-meat.  Our  saint  directed  that  immediate  relief  should  be 
given  to  the  applicant.  While  herself  was  present,  one  of  holy  Brigid's 
servants,  engaged  in  cooking,  thoughtlessly  threw9  a  piece  of  undressed  flesh- 
meat,  into  the  folds  of  her  garments.  ^°  This  the  abbess  brought  to  that  poor 
person,  as  an  alms,  while  her  white  robe,"  was  found  to  preserve  its  purity, 
without  a  single  speck  or  stain." 

=  See   "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Santita  Prodigiosa.   Vita  di  S.  Brigida Iber- 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  ix.,  p.  1 12.  nese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  514  to  516. 

3  Cases  somewhat  similar  are  recorded  in  ^  Some  of  our  Saint's  Lives  merely  say, 

a  Life  of  St.  Ailbe,  at  the  12th  of  Sep-  that  the  cook  threw  it  into  the  bosom  of  the 

tember,  and  in  a  Life  of  St.  Kieran  of  Saigir,  charitable    abbess  ;    but,    this   act   of   dis- 

at  the  5th  of  March.     See  Colgan's  "Trias  courtesy   towards   her,    on   the  part   of   a 

Thaumaturga."     Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,  servant,  can  hardly  be  credible.    The  Latin 

n.  12,  p.  526,  and  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  word  used,  however,  may  admit  of  another 

n.  60,  p.  545,  ibid.  meaning;  for  "in  sinu,"  may  signify   "in 

*  See  this  account,  treated  at  more  length,  a  fold."    The  Irish  line,  in  the  First  Life  of 

in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  San-  St.  Brigid  has  it  : — 

titk  Prodigiosa      Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber-  »  \i^ot^t  tro  cneAr  in  ha  hudc." 

nese.'      Libro  Sesto,  pp.  507  to  512.  '            r       1      1 

s  See  Hebrews,  xi.  In  English  :  "  boiled  meat,  which  was  cast 

^  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  into  her  bosom." 

Vita  Prima  S.   Brigidae,   sec.  20,   p,    516.  '°  Where  Cogitosus  says,  this  man  threw 

Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  x.,  xi.,  pp.  the  piece  of  meat  "in  albatum  ipsius  sinu- 

519,  520.    Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigid ae,  cap.  cv.,  atse    vestis    receptaculum,"  allusion  seems 

cvi.,  p.   540.     This  miracle  is  given,  with  made  to  her  religious  habit.     This  garment 

additional   particulars,    in   the   Fifth   Life.  would  appear  to  have  fallen  about  the  per- 

Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidre,  cap.  xliv.,  p.  578.  sons  of  herself  and  of  her  nuns,  in  graceful 

In  the  Sixth  Life,  a  miracle  is  recorded  of  a  folds. 

somewhat  analogous  character.      However,  "  From  the  words  of  Cogitosus,  allusion 

this  account  does  not  appear  applicable  to  is  seemingly  made  to  the  white  dress  of  St. 

the  narrative,  alluded  to  in  the  text.     See  Brigid's  order. 

Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidre,  sec.  xxiv.,  p.  586.  "  See,  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

^  See  Cogitosus,  or  Secunda  Vita  S.  Bri-  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidte,  cap.  xv.,  p.  520. 

gidoe,  cap.  xiv.,  p.  520,  ibid.  Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sec,  xxiii.,  xxiv.,  p. 

^  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  516.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidte,  cap.  cvii., 


t$6  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 

In  those  primitive  times,  and  when  hospices  were  not  numerous  in 
country  parts,  while  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns  were  engaged  on  missionary 
visitations,  they  were  frequently  obliged  to  accept  the  hospitalities  of  very 
humble  people. ^3  It  was  on  an  occasion  of  this  sort,  while  lodging  with  a 
private  family,  a  man,  named  Icessus,  or  Eccus,  a  poet,  with  his  wife,^* 
happened  to  sleep  in  the  same  house.  The  blessed  abbess,  at  their  request, 
gave  them  her  benediction.  Afterwards,  a  renowned  son,  St.  Echenus  or 
Etchen^s  was  born  to  the  religious  parents.  ^^  During  this  visit,  likewise, 
Brigid  was  instrumental  in  having  a  stolen  silver  lunette,'7  restored  to  her 
hostess,  and  in  a  miraculous  manner.'^  This  had  been  taken  by  a  fugitive 
servant-maid. ^9  An  injustice  of  a  still  more  objectionable  character,  sought 
to  be  practised  on  an  innocent  woman,^°  caused  the  latter  to  fly  for  refuge 
towards  St.  Brigid's  sanctuary.  There  she  received  a  welcome,  and  the 
property  she  lost  was  procured  by  a  miracle.^^ 

The  following  miracle  was  wrought  by  St.  Brigid,  while  lodging  at  the 
house  of  a  certain  poor  and  pious  woman.^^  The  abbess  had  been  engaged 
on  one  of  her  religious  missions.  When  evening  overtook  her  travelling 
over  the  extensive  plain  of  Breg,''^  she  entered  the  house  of  this  poor  woman, 
to  claim  hospitality  for  that  night.  According  to  St.  Brogan's  Life  of  the 
saint,  this  happened  in  the  plain  of  Caoil.^'^  Holding  out  her  hands  in  token 
of  welcome,  the  hostess  joyfully  and  respectfully  received  Christ's  holy 
servant,  with  her  nuns.  She  also  gave  thanks  to  God,  for  their  happy  arrival. 
Having  only  one  calf,  it  was  immediately  killed  for  the  refreshment  of  those 
guests ;  but,  having  no  wood  to  prepare  a  meal,  the  poor  woman  broke  a 
frame  or  distaffj^s  which  had  been  used  for  weaving  stuffs.  With  its  material, 
she  kindled  a  fire,  and  proceeded  to  cook  some  meat,  showing  a  right  good 
will.    After  supper  was  over,  passing  the  night  in  her  accustomed  vigils,  holy 

cviii.,  p.  540.     Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxvi.,  pp.  560, 

ii.,  cap.  Ixxvii.,  IxxviiL,  p.  561.  561,  and  n.  20,  p.  566. 

*3  "En  ce  temps-la,  les  saints  et  les saintes  ^9  She  had  also  lived  with  the  family, 

s'en  allaient  par  toute  I'lrlande,  evangelisant  =°  A  young  man  had  given  into  her  charge 

et  prechant,  edefiant  les  fideles  par  leur  vertus  a  valuable  silver  vessel,  which  he  afterwards 

et  par  leur  miracles." — L.  Tachet  de  Bar-  took  away  without  her  knowledge,  thus  hop- 

neval's  "  Histoire  Legendaire  de  Tlrlande,"  ing  to  make  her  his  slave,  when  she  failed 

chap,  viii.,  p.  78.  to  restore  it.      See  Abbate  D.    Giacomo 

^4  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  has  Certani's  "  La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

a  detailed  account  of  this  incident,  calls  him  S.   Brigida   Ibernese."      Libro   Sesto,  pp. 

a  prince  of  Leinster  "  per  nome  Mario  Eccea  524  to  529. 

con   la    Principessa  sua   Moglie   chiamata  ="  See  Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

Briga." — "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  Prima  Vita  S.  Brigidoe,  sec.  xxxvi.,  p.  517. 

S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto,  p.  517.  Secunda  Vita  S.   Brigidae,  cap.  xxvi.,  p. 

's  His  feast  occurs  on  the  nth  of  Febru-  522. 

ary.  ^  This  is  related  by  Cogitosus. 

"^  See  his  Life  in  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sane-  =3  Breg  was  the  name  of  the  plain,  extend- 

torum  Hibernise,"  xi.  Februarii.     Vita  S.  ing  between  Dublin  and  Pontana  Civitas. 

EtchjBnii,  pp.  304  to  306.  Joceline  writes  **  in  campo  Breaghy  specioso 

^^  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  describes  ac  spatioso."    Vita  Sexta  S.  Patricii,  cap. 

t  as  "vn  certo  suo  adornamento  fabricate  xxxix.,  p.  73.     See  also.  Vita  Secunda  S. 

d'argento  lauorato  da  industriosa  mano,  che  Brigidoe,  n.  13,  p.  526.      Colgan's  "Trias 

I'haueua  condotto  in  forma  d'vna  Luna  non  Thaumaturga."      Fontana   Civitas  is  now 

plena    incastonandoui    dentro    ricchissime  known  as  Drogheda.     See,  Mr.  D'Alton's 

Gemme." — "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  "  History  of  Drogheda,"  vol.  i.,  p.  I. 

di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."     Libro  .Sesto,  p.  =-*  See  also  the  Bollandists' "  Acta  Sanc- 

522.     A  great  number  of  those  laminated  torum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii.      Vita  iv.  S. 

lunettes — but  chiefly  in  gold —are  yet  to  be  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  x,,  p.  170. 

seen  in  the  Royal  Irish  Academy's  Museum.  '■'=>  This  incident  serves  to  reveal  one  of 

'^  See  Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  the  ordinary  occupations  of  an  Irish  house- 

Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  cxi.,  cxii.,  p.  wife,  in  early  times. 

540,  and  nn.  61,  62,  p.  545.     Quarta  Vita 


February  i.]         LIVES  OF  THE  IRI^H  SAINTS.  157 


Brigid  arose  early  on  the  following  morning.  To  reward  the  cheerful  and 
hospitable  spirit  of  her  entertainer,  our  saint  caused  another  calf,  like  the  one 
that  had  been  killed,  to  appear  in  similar  shape.  The  cow  is  stated  to  have 
received  this  young  animal,  as  if  it  had  been  her  own  offspring.  And,  to  the 
hostess  she  presented  an  equally  valuable  weaving-frame,  in  every  respect, 
like  that  one,  which  had  been  destroyed.  For,  she  would  not  allow  this 
hospitable  woman  to  undergo  any  loss,  in  consequence  of  her  charity.  Then, 
bidding  farewell  to  her  hostess  and  family,  our  saint  happily  and  religiously 
proceeded  on  her  journey.*^ 

Truly  wonderful  are  many  of  the  legends,  which  have  been  recorded  by 
her  biographers.  Those,  which  serve  to  display  her  extraordinary  charities, 
are  not  the  least  numerous  and  strange.  Brigid  would  have  bestowed  a  large 
quantity  of  silver  on  a  religious,  named  Hymna  or  Hinna,=7  but  this  latter 
refused  to  accept  it.  Hereupon,  the  pious  abbess  threw  her  offering  into  a 
river,^^  through  which  it  floated,  to  the  cell  of  St.  Hinna.='9  This  miraculous 
occurrences^  caused  St.  Hinna  to  accept  the  gift.3^  A  man  had  been  con- 
demned to  death,  by  a  certain  king's  orders.  Our  saint  interfered,  in  his 
behalf,  and  entreated  that  his  life  might  be  spared.s^*  At  this  moment,  a 
quantity  of  solid  silver  fell  upon  the  bosom  of  Christ's  compassionate  servant. 
This  miraculous  gift  she  at  once  gave  the  king,33  as  a  ransom  for  the  unhappy 
captive.  The  condemned  man  was  liberated  from  death,  in  consequence  of 
such  merciful  interference,  on  the  part  of  our  saint.  On  another  occasion, 
St.  Brigid  divided  her  only  cloak,  between  two  poor  persons,  so  that  each 
one  of  them  received  half  of  it.  But  fully  to  reward  the  wishes  of  the  pious 
donor,  it  pleased  God  to  cause  each  of  those  poor  persons  to  possess  an 
entire  cloak.34  Other  equally  extraordinary  incidents  are  related,  throughout 
our  saint's  Acts ;  but,  writers  who  record  such  incidents  declare,  that  more 
particular  accounts  are  avoided  to  abbreviate  their  respective  biographies.33 
A  more  powerful  ruler  had  driven  a  prince,  who  was  a  particular  friend  of  St. 
Brigid,  from  his  principality.    Our  saint  undertook  to  intercede  with  the 


»*  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  3^  This  narrative  occurs  in  Abbate_  D» 

Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,  cap.   xxvii.,  p.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  vSantitk  Prodigiosa. 

522.      Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidoe,  cap.  cxiii.,  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro  SestOy 

p.  540.     Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  pp.  547  to  549. 

cap.  Ixxix.,  p.  561.   Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidse,  33  Most  likely,  he  was  the  king  of  Northern 

cap.  Iv.,  p.  581.  Leinster,  who,  usually  in  St.  Brigid's  time, 

=7  In  the  Third  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  this  resided  in  the  Dun,  at  Naas.     In  an  Irish 

pious  virgin  is  called  Hinna,  and  in  the  Poem  of  Rev.  Geoffrey  Keating,  translated 

Fourth  Life,  Hymna.  into  English  verse,  by  J.  C.  Mangan,  we 

^  This  is  said  to  have  been  the  Liffey  in  find  these  lines  : — 
AbbateD.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santitk 

Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  "The  chieftains  of  Naas  were  valourous 

Libro  Sesto,  p.  546.  lords,  but  their  valour  was  crushed  by 

=5  Colgan  says,  "  sed  Kinna  seu  Kinnia  Craft— 

videtur  rectius  legendum."     He  also  re*  Theyfell  beneath  Envy's  butcherly  dagger, 

marks,  that  he  is  unable  to  find  any  Irish  and  Calumny's  poisoned  shaft," 
saint  called  Hymna  or  Hinna.    But  a  St. 

Kinna  or  Kinnia  is  venerated  at  the  1st  of  — "The  Sorrows  of  Innisfail."     John  Mit* 

February,  according  to  the  Irish  Martyro-  chel'seditionof"  Poems,  by  James  Clarence 

logists.     Colgan  gives  her  acts,  at  the  same  Mangan."     New  York,  1859.     8vo. 

day.      See  "Acta  Sanctorum  Hibemiae,"  34  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "Li 

i.  Februarii.    Vita  S.  Cinnias,  pp.  234,  235.  Santiti  Prodigiosa.      Vita  di    S.    Brigida 

3' It  is  said  to  have  a  Providential  gui-  Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto,  pp.  540,  541. 

dance.  3S  See  Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga.'' 

3'  See  Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxiii.j 

Vita  Quarta  S,  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxi.,  Ixxxiv.,  Ixxxv.,  p.  561.    Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri- 

Ixxxii.,  and  n.  21,   pp»   561,   566.     Vita  gidse,  cap.  cxvii.,  cxviii.,  cxix.,  pi  541,  7^/«a 
Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  cxvi.,  p.  541, 


tsS  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.        [February  i. 


king,  on  behalf  of  the  fugitive,  so  that  this  latter  might  be  allowed  to  retain 
his  possessions ;  yet,  the  potentate  would  not  hear  her,  but  rejected  her 
request.  By  a  judgment  from  above,  on  this  very  same  day,  the  king  fell 
out  of  his  chariot,  and  died  from  the  effects  of  his  fall.36  At  a  time,  when  a 
great  multitude  of  persons  came  to  visit  her,  and  being  unprovided  with  a 
sufficiency  of  victuals  for  their  refection,  St.  Brigid  miraculously  supplied 
them  with  food.  37 

The  holy  abbess  had  promised,  at  the  hour  of  his  death,  to  visit  a  certain 
magus,  who  had  offered  his  possessions  to  God.^^  Her  promise  was  re- 
deemed ;  for,  when  the  magus  lay  on  his  bed,  expecting  the  approach  of 
death,  he  said  to  his  family  :  "  Get  ready  all  things  that  are  necessary  on 
this  instant,  because  I  see  St.  Brigid,  clothed  in  white,  with  many  others,  on 
their  way  to  meet  me."  After  such  words,  he  received  Christian  baptism, 
and  being  thus  admitted  within  the  true  fold,  he  happily  departed  from  life. 
Nor  could  this  person  have  been  that  magus,  who  fostered  our  saint,  in  her 
young  days  ;  since  he  appears  to  have  been  baptized,  before  his  possessions 
were  given  to  Brigid.  Still  the  matter,  as  related,  may  admit  of  a  doubt 
regarding  his  identity  with  the  present  magus.  39 

No  matter  how  far  we  may  dissent  from  the  details  of  various  legendary 
narratives,  we  must  admit  the  spell  of  a  charming  treatment  and  a  sublime 
moral  lesson  in  the  following  story,  related  almost  in  the  words  of  an  accom- 
plished writer,  alluding  to  St.  Brigid.4°  One  evening,  she  sat  with  Sister 
Dara,  or  Daria,*^  a  holy  nun,  who  was  blind,^^  as  the  sun  went  down ;  and 
they  talked  of  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  joys  of  Paradise.'«3  Now, 
their  hearts  were  so  full,  the  night  fled  away  whilst  they  spoke  together,  and 
neither  knew  that  so  many  hours  had  sped.  Then  the  sun  came  up  from  the 
Wicklow  mountains,  and  the  pure  white  light  made  the  face  of  earth  bright 
and  gay.  Bridget  sighed,  when  she  saw  how  lovely  were  earth  and  sky,  and 
while  she  knew  that  Dara's  eyes  were  closed  to  all  this  beauty.  So  she 
bowed  her  head  and  prayed.  She  extended  her  hand  and  signed  the  dark 
orbs  of  the  gentle  sister.  Then  the  darkness  passed  away  from  them,  and 
Dara^4  saw  the  golden  ball  in  the  east,  while  all  the  trees  and  flowers 


3*  See  this  narrative  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  rum  Ecclesiarum,"  pp.  626  et  seq.    "  There 

Certani's  *'  La  Santiti  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  was  an  Irish  virgin  ol  that  name  and  a  com- 

S.  Brigida  Ibernese."   Libro  Sesto,  pp.  549  panion  oi  St.  Bngid  at  Kildare,  who  is  men- 

to  553»  tioued  in  that  same  P^our.h  Life,  Z.  2,  C. 

37  See   Colgan's  **  Trias   Thaumaturga."  89.     But  tlie  author  derives  the  name  KiU 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidas,  lib,  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxvi.,  dave^  not  from  her,  but  from  the  oak.     And 

Ixxxvii.,  p.  561.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigid*,  in  the  Third  Life  (cap.  47)  it  is  called  Cella 

cap.  cxxi.,  cxxii.,  p.  541.  roboris." — Dr.     Lanigan's     "Ecclesiastical 

3^  The  following  narrative  is  given  at  more  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec. 

length  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  x.,  n.  119,  p.  408. 

Santiti   Prodigiosa.      Vita    di    S.    Brigida  '♦Mt  is  said  she  was  so  from  her  birth. 

Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  553  to  557.  *3  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  •'  La 

39  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Santila   Prodigiosa.       Vita  di   S.    Brigida 

Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xv.,  p.  528,  Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  p.  537. 
cap.  cxxiii.,  p.  541,  n.  66,  p.  545.     Vita  *♦  There  are  three   saints  called   Daria, 

Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxviii.,  Dara  or   Daire,    in   the    "Martyrology  of 

p.  561.  Donegal ;"  one  a  St.  Daire,  a  virgin,  vene- 

<°  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of  rated  at  the  8th  of  August;  another  St. 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  i.,  p.  20.  Daire,  a  widow,  whose  least  occurs  at  the 

■♦'  Dempster  has  the  extraordinary  state-  28th  of  September  ;  and  a  third  St.  Daire 

tnent,  that  Kildare  was  so  called  from  the  Bochanna,  a  widow,  reverenced  at  the  2nd 

relics  of  a  Scotch  woman,   Daria,  mother  of  November.    See  Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves' 

of  St.  Ursula,  and  which  had  been  brought  to  edition.      Table  of  the   Martyrology,   pp. 

Ireland.    Ussher  has  thoroughly  refuted  this  398,  399.     Yet,  the  present  holy  Dara  may 

Statement.  See  ♦*  De  Primordiis  Britannica-  be  distinct  from  any  of  the  foregoing  saints, 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  159 


glittered  with  dew  in  the  morning  Hght.  She  looked  a  little  while,  and  then, 
turning  to  the  abbess,  said  :  "  Close  my  eyes  again,  dear  mother,  for  when 
the  world  is  so  visible  to  the  eyes,  God  is  seen  less  clearly  to  the  soul."  So 
Bridget  prayed  once  more,  and  Dara's  eyes  grew  dark  again. '♦s 

Among  many  wonderful  miracles,  wrought  through  St.  Brigid,  it  has  been 
observed,'^^  there  was  one  very  remarkable  and  great.'»7  This  also  was 
generally  known.  A  very  large  and  lofty  tree  had  been  cut  down,  in  the 
woods,  with  an  axe,  and  it  had  been  destined  for  a  certain  purpose  by  arti- 
ficers. It  seems  probable,  the  timber  had  been  required  for  some  building 
purposes,  in  connexion  with  the  holy  abbess's  religious  establishment ;  since, 
thither  it  was  brought,  according  to  one  account.^^  A  number  of  strong 
men  and  oxen,  with  suitable  machines,  were  assembled  to  draw  it  towards 
the  destined  place ;  for,  on  being  felled,  it  had  settled  in  a  position,  from 
which  it  could  not  be  detached,  without  the  utmost  difficulty,  owing  to  its 
weight  and  peculiar  shape.  But,  neither  the  men,  oxen  nor  various  machines, 
by  any  exertion  or  application,  could  draw  this  tree  from  the  spot,  where  it 
rested.  Trusting  to  the  efficacy  of  firm  faith,  whereby  mountains  are  moved,« 
and  all  things  become  possible  to  those  believing,  according  to  Christ's  words 
in  the  Gospel,5°  those  present  desisted  from  their  efforts,  and  then  invoked  the 
protection  and  assistance  of  St.  Brigid.  Afterwards,  those  labourers  moved 
the  tree  towards  that  place  intended,  without  the  least  difficulty,  and  without 
human  aid.  Such  a  wonderful  miracle  was  soon  divulged,  throughout  all  the 
provinces  of  Ireland.s^  So,  she  made  man  honourable  in  his  labours,  and 
accomplished  his  labours. 5*  By  the  splendid  miracles  she  wrought,  and  by 
the  consummate  sanctity  of  her  life,  she  brought  countless  souls  to  the 
following  of  Christ. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE  DISCIPLES  Ot  St.  BRIGID— HER  HOLY  CONTEMPORARIES— SHE  OBTAINS  PARDON 
FOR  A  MAN  UNJUSTLY  CONDEMNED  TO  DEATH— THE  DROVERS  AND  SWINE  ESCAPE 
FROM  WOLVES -ST.  BRIGID  PROTECTS  A  YOUNG  LADY,  WHO  WISHED  TO  BE  A 
NUN— SHE  RELIEVES  THE  ROAD-MAKERS— OTHER  REMARKABLE  OCCURRENCES. 

Among  the  disciples,  and  honoured  friends,  specially  patronised  by  the 
illustrious  Abbess  of  Kildare,  may  be  enumerated  her  immediate  successor 
over  the  convent  she  had  there  founded,  St.  Darlugdacha.  She  survived 
holy  Brigid  only  for  a  short  term.  St.  Lasrea  or  Laisre,  who  was  Abbess  of 
Killaisre,  St.  Hynna  or  Kinnia,  Virgin,  St.  Daria,  Virgin,  St.  Blathnata  or 
Blatha,  Latinized,  Flora,  cook  to  St.  Brigid,  St»  Conlaidh,  Bishop  of  Kildare, 
St.  Nennidius  or  Nennius,  Bishop,  St.  Natfraicus  or  Nathfraich,  her  charioteer 
and  chaplain,  are  all  numbered  among  those,  towards  whom  she  had  acted 
in  the  capacity  of  a  Protectress.^     Another  St.  Brigde,  of  Killbride,  belongs 


■♦s  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga."  o  See  i.  Corinthians  xiii.,  2* 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidas,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxix.,  so  See  St.  Mark  xi.,  22,  23. 

p.   561.      Vita   Tertia    S.   Brigidse,   cap.  si  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga.'* 

exxiv.,  p.  541.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cxxv.,  p.  541. 

**  By  Cogitosus.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  libi  ii.,  cap.  xc.j 

^7  See,  the   BoUandists'   "Atta  Sancto*  pp.  561,  562. 

him,"  tomus  ii,  Februarii.    Vita  ii.,  S.  Bri-  ^-  See  Wisdom  x.  10* 

gidae,  cap.  v.,  p.  139*  CHAPTER  XII.—'  See  Colgan's   "Trias 

*^  See   Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Thaumaturga."    Appendix  Quinta  ad  Acta 

Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidw,  sec»  xxxv.,  p.  517.  S,  Brigidae,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  623, 


i6o  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


to  this  class.  Besides  the  foregoing,  we  can  hardly  doubt,  that  the  glorious 
Patroness  of  Kildare  had  a  very  intimate  acquaintance,  with  many  of  those 
holy  men  and  women,  who  are  ranked  among  the  disciples  of  the  great  St. 
Patrick,  as  most  of  these  were  her  contemporaries.  Members  of  the  Irish 
Apostle's  own  family  circle,  who  came  from  Britain,  are  likely  to  have  been 
a'mong  her  most  devoted  friends. 

Our  saint  could  hardly  have  known  St.  Auxilius,^  Bishop  of  Killossy, 
now  Killishee,  not  far  from  Kildare,  unless,  indeed,  during  the  years  of  her 
childhood,  for  he  departed  this  life,  so  early  as  a.d.  460.3  Certain  Arch- 
bishops of  Armagh,  administering  the  affairs  of  this  church  and  see,  even 
while  the  great  Apostle  of  Ireland  lived,  such  as  St.  Binan  or  Benignus,  who 
died,  November  the  9th,4  a.d.  468,5  and  St.  Jarlath  who  went  to  heaven, 
February  the  iith,^A.D.  482,7  may  have  known  and  conversed  with  our 
saint.  Their  position  and  office,  as  ruling  over  the  Irish  Church,  and  St. 
Brigid's  active  services  to  religion,  not  in  one  particular  district,  but  in 
several  places,  far  apart  from  each  other,  warrant  the  foregoing  inference. 
Even  these  survivors  of  St.  Patrick  in  the  See  of  Armagh,  Cormac,  who  died 
on  the  J  7th  of  February,^  a.d.  49 7,9  Dubtach  I.,  who  departed,  a.d.  512'° 
or  5r3;"  and  Ailild  I.,  who  died  on  the  13th  of  January,"  a.d.  525*3  or 
526  ;'+  were  probably  accustomed  to  receive  visits  from  St.  Brigid,  or  to 
correspond  with  her,  regarding  various  obligations  and  duties  of  her  subjects, 
living  in  the  different  convents  she  had  founded. 

Several  very  eminent  persons,  living  at  her  time,  either  visited  or  corres- 
ponded with  St.  Brigid.  Hearing  about  the  fame  of  Gildas,'^  she  sent  a  request 
to  him  by  a  messenger,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  transmit  a  token,  which 
might  often  remind  her  of  the  donor's  talents  and  sanctity.  Gildas  complied 
with  this  request,  and  sent  her  a  small  bell,  cast  by  himself.  This  memorial 
our  saint  received  with  great  pleasure.  She  attached  more  than  ordinary 
importance  to  his  gift,  owing  to  the  circumstance  of  having  received  it,  from 
a  person  so  remarkable  and  so  holy.^^  It  seems  probable,  that  Gildas,  at 
this  time,  was  a  young  man,  and  residing  in  the  city  of  Armagh,  where  he  is 
said  to  have  ably  discharged  the  duties  of  a  professor.  Again,  it  may  be 
observed,  the  holy  virgin,  St.  Brigid,  must  have  been  advanced  in  years,  and 
approaching  the  close  of  her  mortal  career,  when  she  asked  for  and  obtained 
that  much  prized  souvenir  of  friendship.  In  like  manner,  she  must  have 
been  in  the  decline  of  Hfe,  when  St.  Brendan*7  of  Clonfert  paid  her  a  visit,  in 
order  to  obtain  instruction,  on  some  religious  questions.     In  the  legend  of 


«  See  his  Life  at  the  27th  of  August.  "  See  his  Life  at  that  date. 

3  According  to  Ussher's  Index  Chronolo-  '3  gge  Villanueva's  "  Santi  Patricii,  Ibcr* 

gicus,  p.  531.     See  "Britannicarum  Eccle-  norum  Apostoli,   Synodi,  Canones,   Opus* 

siarum  Antiquitates."  cula,"  &c.     Appendix  vi.,  p.  384. 

*  See  his  Life  at  that  date.  '*  See  Rev.  P.  J.  Carew's  "  Ecclesiastical 

5  See  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  i.,  "Archbishops  History  of  Ireland."    Appendix,  p.  405. 
of  Armagh,"  pp.  34,  35.  's  See  his  Acts  at  the  29th  of  January. 

^  See  his  Life  at  that  day.  "'  '*  See  Colgan's  "Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber* 

1  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber-  niaB,"  xxix.  Januarii,  p.  183. 
nise,"  xi.  Februarii.     Vita  S.  lerlathei,  sive  ^^  See  his  Life  at  the  i6th  of  May.     In 

Hierlatii,  pp.  307,  308.  Professor  Bryan  O'Looney's  MS.  Life  of  St» 

^  See  his  feast  at  that  day.  Brigid,  an  interesting  anecdote  is  told,  that 

9  See /3/t/,,  xvii.  Februarii.    Acta  S.  Cor-  St.  Brendan,  on  acknowledging  to  her  he 

maci,  pp.  358,  359.  never  crossed  over  seven  ridges,    without 

"  See  Villanueva's  "  Sancti  Patricii,  Iber-  thinking  of  God,  learned  in  return  from  the 

norum   Apostoli,   Synodi,   Canones,  Opus-  devoted  virgin,  that  from  the  first  moment 

cula,"  &c     Appendix  vi.,  p.  384.  she  had  formed  an  idea  of  God,  she  never 

"See    Harris'   Ware,   vol.    i.,    *' Arch*  once  diverted  her  attention  from  the  sense 

bishops  of  Armagh,"  pp.  36,  37,  of  His  holy  presence.    See  pp.  45,  46. 


February  i.]        LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


i6i 


his  Acts,  it  is  related,  that  he  had  this  interview,  after  having  returned  from 
Britain,  whither  Brendan  had  gone  to  see  St.  Gildas,  in  his  monastery. 
Even  then,  the  fame  of  this  latter  holy  man  was  very  generally  proclaimed. 
While  sailing  back  to  Ireland,  St.  Brendan  witnessed  a  wonderful  portent  at 
sea,  and  he  wished  to  have  St.  Brigid's  explanation,  regarding  such  a  very 
extraordinary  occurrence.'^  No  earthly  affection  or  occupation  ever  caused 
interruption  of  her  thinking  on  God.  This  she  confessed  to  St.  Brendan,  at 
a  spiritual  conference,  which  took  place  between  them.  With  Brigid's 
exposition  he  was  greatly  edified.  Then,  bestowing  mutual  benedictions, 
St.  Brendan  took  leave  of  her,  and  proceeded  on  his  way  towards  the  Con- 
naught  province. 

During  his  earlier  career,  St.  Finian,'9  afterwards  the  holy  Bishop  of 
Clonard,  is  said  to  have  preached  before  St.  Brigid  and  her  religious 
daughters.     This  must  have  happened  near  the  close  of  her  career. 

St.  Iserninus,^°  at  Kilcullen,  most  probably  was  intimate  with  our  saint, 
although  in  her  Acts,  no  notice  of  him  occurs.  However,  he  was  her  con- 
temporary,2i  and  his  place,  not  far  removed  from  Kildare,  is  at  the  present 


Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  of  St.  Brigid,  Kilcullen,  Co.  Kildare. 
time  happily  marked  by  a  very  noble  parochial  church,  of  Gothic  design,^ 


'S  See  "  Acta  Sancti  Brendani."  Edited 
by  Rt.  Rev.  Patrick  F.  Moran,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  Ossory.  Vita  S.  Brendani,  cap. 
Jfvii.,  pp.  16,  17. 

'9  See  his  Life  at  the  12th  of  December. 

=°  This  saint  is  considered  by  Colgan  to 
have  been  identical  w^ith  St.  Sezin,  whose 
Acts  are  given  by  Albert  le  Grande,  in  his 

Vol.  II. 


Lives  of  the  Saints  of  British  Armorica. 
Those  Acts  have  been  reproduced,  with 
notes  appended,  in  Colgan's  "Acta  Sanc- 
torum Hibemise,"  vi.  Martii.  Vita  S. 
Sezini,  pp.  477  to  479. 

='  See  his  Life  at  the  6th  of  March. 

==  This  was  furnished  by  J.  J.  MacCarthy, 
architect,  of  Dublin. 

M 


l62 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i. 


and  of  exquisite  proportions,  which  appropriately  takes  St.  Brigid,  the  Mary 
of  Ireland,  for  joint  patron,  united  with  the  Sacred  Heart  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  =^3    The  venerable  Iserninus  died  in  the  year  469.=+ 

St.  Ailbe,  Bishop  of  Emly,^5  visited  St.  Brigid,  more  than  once,  to  receive 
her  opinions  regarding  matters  of  a  spiritual  nature,  as  her  prudence  and 
judgment  gave  her  a  high  character  among  all  her  contemporaries.'^  St. 
Fiech,  Bishop  of  Sletty,  most  probably  held  interviews  with  the  holy  Abbess 
of  Kildare,  and  he  is  reputed  to  have  composed  a  hymn  in  her  praise.  He 
seems  to  have  outlived  her  for  some  years.  St.  Kieran,'7  the  Patron  Bishop 
of  Ossory,  lived  not  far  from  Kildare,  and  most  probably  he  had  a  personal 
knowledge  of  St.  Brigid ;  for,  he  is  thought  to  have  survived  her,  and  to 
have  lived,  until  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century.'^  St.  Tighernach,  Bishop 
of  Clogher,'9  was  the  god-son  of  St.  Brigid,  while  she  resided  at  Kildare,  and 
the  infant  was  baptized  by  St.  Conleth.3°  The  foregoing  would  not  nearly 
exhaust  a  list  of  her  pious  and  distinguished  familiars,  while  the  enumeration 
and  comparison  of  other  names,  with  periods  and  places,  might  probably 
add  considerably  to  the  completeness  of  her  large  social  circle. 

The  saddest  memorials  of  the  world  and  of  its  fleeting  pleasures  are  the 
parted  friends,  who  drop  away  from  us  to  the  grave,  and  who  precede  us 
thither,  while  we  travel  to  the  same  goal.  It  is  not  well  known,  as  we  have 
already  stated,  how  many  of  the  ancient  and  patriarchal  missionaries  in 
Ireland  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  confidence  of  St.  Brigid,  besides  those 
specially  mentioned  in  her  Acts.  Her  early  patron  Mel,  Bishop  of  Ardagh,3' 
departed  to  bliss  about  the  year  487. 3^  Cianan,  Bishop  of  Duleek,33  followed 
in  or  about  the  year  488.34  Bishop  Maccaille,35  who  gave  the  veil  to  our 
holy  abbess,  died  a.d.  489.36  Bishop  Melchu  or  Maolchu37  most  probably 
departed  this  life,  before  the  close  of  the  fifth  century.38    The  illustrious 


=3  This  beautiful  church  has  been  erected 
by  the  zealous  and  pious  pastor,  Rev. 
Matthew  P.  Langan,  P.P.  of  Kilcullen. 
The  first  stone  was  laid  by  His  Eminence 
Paul  CuUen,  Cardinal  Archbishop  of  Dublin, 
on  the  5  th  of  August,  1869;  while,  the  de- 
dication ceremony,  performed  by  the  same 
venerated  Prince  of  the  Church,  took  place 
on  the  8th  of  September,  1872.  The  build- 
ing material  used  on  the  exterior  is  TuUa- 
more  limestone,  of  the  best  description.  The 
interior  is  most  elegantly  furnished  with 
marble  altars,  and  with  details  of  architec- 
ture or  decorations,  in  a  suitable  style.  The 
church,  towards  the  close  of  1875,  was  per-, 
fectly  completed,  both  externally  and  in- 
ternally, with  the  exception  of  the  grand 
tower  and  spire,  to  be  joined  to  the  nave, 
by  a  cloistral  entrance.  The  detached 
building  will  represent  the  presbytery, 
when  completed,  but,  it  has  yet  to  be  built ; 
however,  under  direction  of  the  energetic  and 
amiable  pastor,  we  believe,  this  portion  of 
the  work  will  not  be  long  delayed.  The 
present  engraving,  by  Mrs.  Millard,  is  taken 
from  a  carefully-executed  lithograph  of  the 
intended  and  complete  architectural  de- 
sign. 

''*'  See  Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesi- 
arum  Antiquitates. "  Index  Chronologicus, 
p.  522. 


°s  His  Life  occurs  at  the  12th  of  Sep* 
tember. 

=^  St.  Ailbe  is  said  to  have  died  A.D.  541. 
See  Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves'  **  Martyrology 
of  Donegal,"  pp.  246,  247. 

'7  See  his  Acts  at  the  5th  of  March. 

=^  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  **  Ecclesiastical  His« 
tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  chap,  x.,  sec.  2, 
and  n.  31,  pp.  8,  9. 

»9  See  his  Life  at  the  4th  of  April.  The 
close  of  his  life  is  set  down  at  A.D.  548. 
See  Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves'  ' '  Martyrology 
of  Donegal,"  pp.  94,  95. 

3°  See  his  Life  at  the  3rd  of  May. 

3'  See  his  Life  at  the  6th  of  February. 

3'  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i,,  pp.  152,  153. 

33  See  his  Life  at  the  24th  of  November. 

^  See  ibid. 

35  See  his  Life  at  the  25th  of  April. 

3^  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemi- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.  Annales  UI- 
tonienses,  pp.  7,  8.  By  the  compiler,  he  is 
incorrectly  styled,  "  Epi  Mannensis." 

37  Although  some  persons  rank  Saints  Ere, 
Mel  and  Melchuo,  among  St.  Brigid's  dis- 
ciples, Colgan  thinks,  they  ought  rather  be 
accounted  her  directors.  See  '*  Trias  Thau- 
maturga."  Appendix  Quinta  ad  Acta  S. 
Brigidoe,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  623. 

38  See  his  Life  at  the  6th  ot  February. 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


'63 


Apostle  of  Ireland,  St.  Patrick,39  was  called  away  to  Heaven,  it  is  said,  about 
A.D.  493. <°  Mochaoij-^'  Abbot  of  Mahee  Island,  died  a.d.  496.  St.  Cormac,^^ 
Bishop  of  Armagh,  and  called,  likewise,  of  Chrioch-in-Ernaidhe,  departed 
this  life  the  same  year. '♦3  St.  Ibar<*  or  Iver  died  in  the  commencement  of 
the  sixth  century. 45  Cerban,  a  bishop  of  Feart-Cearbain,  at  Tara,  died  about 
the  same  date/^  St.  Brigid's  friend  the  holy  Bishop  Broon,  of  Cuil-Irra,  in 
Connaught,  died  the  8th  of  June,-*?  a.d.  sii."*^  In  the  ninetieth  year  of  his 
age,  on  the  2nd  of  November,  a.d.  512,  or  SiS'*^  died  St.  Ere,  Bishop  of 
Lilcach,  and  of  Fearta-fear-Feig,5°  but  better  known  as  the  Bishop  of  Slane, 
and  a  particular  friend  of  St.  Brigid.  This  same  year,  Dubhtach,  of  Druim 
DearbhjSi  and  Bishop  of  Armagh,  departed  this  life.  St.  Mac  Nissi,  whose 
feast  is  kept  on  the  3rd  of  September,  died  a.d.  514.^^  St.  Darerca,  or 
Moninne,53  of  Killeavy,  died  the  6th  of  July,  a.d.  517.54 

Some  unreliable  accounts  have  it,55  that  the  first  Bishop  of  Kildare  was 
Lonius.  A  certain,  or  rather  an  uncertain,  Ivorus,  is  stated  to  have  succeeded 
him.  But,  nothing  trustworthy  can  be  found,  regarding  the  dates  for  their 
appointment,  or  those  terms,  during  which  they  held  office. s^  Indeed,  we 
must  more  safely  hold,  that  St:  Conleth  was  the  first  prelate,  called  upon  to 
rule  this  ancient  see-S7  He  had  lived  a  holy  and  anchoretical  life  at  Old 
Connell,  where  he  edified  all  who  noticed  his  habits  in  this  place,  chosen  for 


39  See  his  Life  at  the  17th  of  March. 

4°  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  154  to  159. 

4'  See  his  Life  at  the  23rd  of  June. 

4^  See  his  Life  at  the  1 7th  of  February. 

^3  See  ibid.y  pp.  160,  161.  See,  also,  Dr. 
O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hibemicarum  Scrip- 
tores,"  tomus  iv.  Annales  Ultonienses,  p. 
9. 

<4  See  his  Life  at  the  23rd  of  April.  He 
was  a  disciple  of  St.  Patrick.  See  Dr. 
Todd's  "St.  Patrick,  Apostle  of  Ireland." 
Introduction,  pp.  215,  216. 

«  The  "  Annals  of  Ulster"  have  his  death 
at  A.D.  499,  5CX)  or  503.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's 
"  Rerum  Hibemicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
iv.,  pp.  9,  II.  The  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters"  have  A.D.  500  (See  ibid.,  tomus 
iii.,  p.  137) ;  while  those  of  Clonmacnoise 
enter  it,  at  a.d.  504.  In  William  M.  Hen- 
nessy's  "  Chronicum  Scotorum,"  the  date 
is  a.  d.  500.     Seepp.  34,  35. 

4^  The  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters" 
enter  his  demise  at  A.  D.  499 ;  while,  the 
"Annals  of  Ulster"  have  it  at  a.d.  503. 
Those  of  Tighernach  state  a.d.  504.  See 
Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibemicarum 
Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  Tigeraachi  Annales, 
p.  127.  Also,  tomus  iv.  Annales  Ulto- 
nienses, pp.  10,  II.  The  "Annals  of  Clon- 
macnoise" place  it,  also,  at  the  latter  year. 

*7  See  his  festival  at  that  date. 

4^  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol,  i.,  pp.  166,  167. 

49  See  Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "Histoire 
de  rirlande,"  tome  i.,  partie  ii.,  chap,  ii., 
p.  286. 

5°  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i,,  pp.  166  to  168. 

5'  Dr.  O'Donovan  supposes  this  to  be  the 


place  called  Derver,  county  of  Louth. 

5=  See  Dr.  Reeves'  "Ecclesiastical  Anti- 
quities of  Down,  Connor  and  Dromore." 
Appendix  T.,  p.  239. 

53  St.  Moninnia,  with  her  disciples, 
Saints  Darlassara,  Achea,  Brecnata,  Dim- 
nata,  and  others,  are  ranked  among  St. 
Brigid's  disciples,  by  some  writers.  But 
Colgan  thinks,  whatever  may  be  said  of  the 
rest,  that  St.  Moninna  must  be  considered, 
rather  as  the  mistress  of  our  saint.  See 
the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  33,  38  ; 
St.  Ultan's  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  18,  44, 
51,  78,  116,  124,  132;  Animosus,  lib.  i., 
cap,  39,  lib,  ii,,  cap.  19  ;  the  Martyrology  of 
Donegal,  and  of  Marianus  Gorman,  at  the 
1st  of  February,  29th  of  January,  and  2nd 
of  December,  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 
xiii.,  p.  623. 

5*  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i,,  pp.  168,  169.  The 
"  Annals  of  Tigemach,"  however,  have  a.d. 
513.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiber- 
nicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  129. 

55  An  ancient  register  has  been  cited  for 
this  statement,  and  for  succeeding  items 
furnished  by  Richard  Stanihurst,  and  by 
Raphael  Holinshed.  See  Holinshed's 
"Chronicles  of  England,  Scotland  and 
Ireland,"  vol.  vi.  "A  treatise  conteining 
a  plaine  and  perfect  Description  of  Ireland, 
with  an  Introduction  to  the  better  Vnder- 
standing  of  the  Histories  apperteining  to 
that  Hand  :"  compiled  by  Richard  Stani- 
hurst.    The  first  chapter,  p.  45. 

56  See  Sir  James  Ware,  "De  Praesulibus 


Lageni8e,"p.42. 

57  See  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  i. 
Kildare,"  pp.  380,  381. 


Bishops  of 


i64  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS          [February  i. 


his  retreat.  Yet,  his  missionary  duties  occasionally  called  him  to  mingle 
with  the  world.  The  holy  Conleth  or  Conlaedh,  Bishop  of  Kildare,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  fill  that  office,  at  the  instance  of  St.  Brigid,  departed 
this  life  on  the  3rd  of  May,58  a.d.  519.59  His  fate  must  have  proved 
peculiarly  distressing  to  the  sensitive  soul  of  £he  illustrious  abbess ;  for, 
after  he  had  directed  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  his  see  and  her  own  religious 
institute  for  several  years,  with  great  judgment  and  piety,  probably  during 
one  of  his  episcopal  journeys,  he  was  torn  asunder  by  ferocious  wolves. 
Yet,  his  remains  were  in  part  recovered,  and  afterwards  placed  in  a  rich 
shrine.^**  It  seems  likely,  that  veneration,  entertained  for  him  by  the  tender 
virgin,  induced  her  to  have  that  reliquary  prepared,  in  course  of  the  very 
few  years  she  survived.  Those  friends,  parted  on  earth,  were  yet  destined 
soon  to  meet,  and  to  enjoy  the  eternal  rewards  of  Heaven.  St.  Buite  Mac 
Bronaigh  of  Monasterboice  died  on  the  7th  of  December,^'  a.d.  521.^"  St. 
Beoadh,  Bishop  of  Ardcarne,  departed  this  Hfe  on  the  8th  of  March,^3  a.d. 
523.^4  St.  Brigid  may  have  known  most — if  not  all — the  foregoing  saintly 
persons,  who  were  her  contemporaries,  and  who,  it  seems  likely,  departed  to 
a  better  world,  before  she  was  called  to  her  hg^py  home  beyond  the  grave. 

Among  those  many  miracles,  wrought  by  St.  Brigid,  this  following  account 
is  deemed^s  not  unworthy  of  being  recorded.  A  certain  simple  nistic^^  saw 
a  fox,  belonging  to  a  king.^7  This  animal  was  straying  one  day,  near  the 
royal  residence.  ^^  The  countryman  supposed  it,  at  first,  to  have  been  a  wild 
denizen  of  the  woods ;  whereas,  in  reality,  it  had  been  domesticated  and 
trained  to  a  variety  of  tricks,  in  order  to  amuse  at  his  castle  the  king,  with 
his  chiefs  and  attendants.  Ignorant  about  its  being  a  tame  creature,  the 
rustic  killed  it,^9  in  the  presence  of  many  witnesses.  Immediately  appre- 
hended and  brought  into  the  king's  presence,  a  serious  charge  was  preferred 
against  him.  The  king  felt  very  indignant,  on  learning  what  had  occurred. 
He  declared,  in  a  passion,  that  man  must  be  put  to  death,  while  his  wife 
and  children  should  be  reduced  to  a  state  of  bondage,  and,  moreover,  that 
his  small  property  should  be  forfeited.  The  pious  and  venerable  Brigid 
heard  about  this  transaction.  She  felt  greatly  grieved  for  the  condition  of  that 
unfortunate  man,  thus  unjustly  condemned  to  death ;  but,  her  active  charity 
and  natural  benevolence  of  disposition  urged  her  to  make  an  appeal  to  the 
monarch  for  mercy.  Ordering  her  chariot  to  be  yoked,  and  offering  prayers 
to  God,  she  journeyed  over  the  adjoining  plain,  on  her  way  to  the  king's 
castle.7°    Her  importunate  and  fervent  prayers  were  heard  by  the  Almighty, 


58  Sec  his  Life,  given  at  that  date.  St.  Brigid,  this  rustic  is  called  a  clown  of 

59  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Brigid's   people,    and  he  is  said  to  have 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  170,  171.  been  engaged  cutting  firewood.      See  pp. 

^  This  has  been  very  particularly  described  39,  40. 

by  Cogitosus.     See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau-  ^^  In  the  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint,  he  is 

maturga."     Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  called  the  King  of  Leinster. 

XXXV.,  p.  523.  ^  It  is  somewhat  amusing  to  read  all  the 

**  See  his  Life  at  this  date.  imaginative     circumstances,     with     which 

''See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Abbate  D.   Giacomo  Certani  contrives  to 

Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  170,  171.  invest  the  relation  of  this  incident,  which  he 

'3  See  notices  of  him  at  this  date.  found  less  complexly  inserted  in  his  original 

•*  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber-  Latin  authorities.     See  "  La  Santiti  Prodi- 

niae/'  viii.   Martii.      Vita  S.    Beoadi  sive  giosa.    Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."   Libro 

Beati,  pp.  562,  563.     In  the  "  Annals  of  Quarto,  pp.  287  to  295. 

Boyle,"  the   death  of   the   two  foregoing  ^  See  the  account  of  this  transaction  in 

saints  is  placed  so  early  as  A.D.  499.     See  Rev.S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives of  the  Saints," 

John  D'Alton's  "History  of  Ireland,  and  vol.  ii.,  February  ist,  pp.   19,  20.     There, 

Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  75.  however,  the  animal  in  question  is  said  to 

•^5  By  Cogitosus.  have  been  a  tamed  wolf. 

^  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  7°  From  the  description  given,  it  is  pro* 


February  i.]       LIVES  OP  THE  IRISH  SAINTS. 


165 


who  directed  one  of  the  wild  foxes,  in  the  wood  to  approach  her  chariot,  at 
a  swift  pace.71  This  animal  immediately  entered  the  vehicle,  and  quietly 
lay  down  there,  nestling  in  the  folds  of  our  saint's  garments. 7=*  When  the 
pious  woman  arrived  at  the  king's  palace,  she  earnestly  entreated,  the  captive 
might  be  liberated  from  his  chains,  as  he  was  not  morally  accountable  for 
that  act  committed.  But,  the  king  refused  his  pardon,  and  declared,  more- 
over, that  the  criminal  should  not  be  liberated,  unless  a  fox,  equal  in  cunning 
and  performances  to  that  one  he  had  lost,  were  restored  to  him.  Then,  our 
saint  set  before  the  king  and  his  courtiers  the  fox,  which  had  accompanied 
her  in  the  chariot,  and  which  appeared  to  rival  the  former  one  in  domesticity, 
tricks,  and  devices.  Seeing  this,  the  king  was  greatly  pleased,  and  he  imme- 
diately ordered  the  captive's  restoration  to  liberty,  while  the  chiefs  and  multi- 
tude present  could  not  but  applaud  what  they  had  witnessed.  Yet,  soon  after 
the  poor  man's  liberation  and  pardon,'when  St.  Brigid  returned  to  her  home, 
that  presented  fox,  astutely  mingling  with  the  multitude,  contrived  to  escape 
once  more  to  his  den,  in  the  woods,  notwithstanding  the  pursuit  of  horsemen 
and  of  dogs,  over  the  open  country,  through  which  he  fled. 73  All  the  people, 
living  in  that  part  of  the  province,  admired  what  had  occurred,  while  greatly 
venerating  Brigid's  sanctity  and  miraculous  gifts.  Her  fame  was  daily  on 
the  increase,  and  she  was  regarded  as  the  special  favourite  of  Heaven. 74 

At  one  time,  a  certain  rich  man,  living  in  a  distant  province,  came  to  our 
saint.  Among  other  gifts,  he  offered  her  a  present  of  some  fat  swine.75  This 
man  requested,  also,  that  some  of  Brigid's  servants  might  be  sent  back  with 
him,  to  drive  those  animals  from  his  village,  which  lay  "at  a  considerable 
distance  from  her  church.  7^  It  was  situated,  according  to  one  account,  in 
the  plain  of  Femhin,77  in  the  Nandesii  territory,?^  and  in  the  province  of 


bable,  this  monarch  resided  at  Naas — some 
ten  miles  from  Kildare.  It  is  sometimes 
called  Nas-Laighean.  See  "  Miscellany  of 
the  Celtic  Society."  Edited  by  John 
O'Donovan,  LL.D.     Appendix,  n.  (b),  p. 

357. 

7^  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxi.,  p.  521. 

T^  The  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould,  who  relates 
this  occurrence,  states,  "  there  came  a  wolf 
over  the  bog  racing  towards  her,  and  it 
leaped  into  the  chariot,  and  allowed  her  to 
caress  it."  "  Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii., 
February  1st,  p.  20. 

73  In  the  First  Life,  this  incident  is  related 
thus,  in  the  Latin  version  : — 

**  Tradidit  vulpem  sylvestrem 
Cuidam  rustico  egenti ; 
Qui  ab  sylvam  postea  evasit 
Quamvis  eum  persequebantur  turmse." 

— Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  xxxi,,  pp. 
516,  517.  See,  also.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae, 
cap.  cxxviii.,  p.  541.  Vita  QuartaS.  Brigidse, 
lib.  ii.,  cap.  xciii.,  p.  562. 

74  This  account  is  also  contained  in  our 
saint's  Fifth  Life,  and  in  the  usual  diffuse 
style,  with  adjunct  circumstances,  not  found 
in  her  other  Lives.  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidae, 
cap.  xxxix.,  pp.  576,  577. 

7SSee  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidse,   cap.  xx.,  pp. 


520,  521. 

76  In  the  Third  Life  of  our  saint,  published 
by  Colgan,  we  read,  "spatio  itineris,  14 
dierum ;"  but,  in  a  Carthusian  MS.  of 
Cologne,  we  find,  "  trium  vel  quatuor  die- 
rum."  The  latter  reading  is  more  in  accor- 
dance with  all  other  authorities,  and  with 
the  probable  facts. 

77  Otherwise  called  Magh-Feimhin,  now 
the  barony  of  Iffa  and  Offa  East,  in  the 
south-east  of  Tipperary  County.  It  was 
the  seat  of  the  O'Donoghues,  known  as  the 
Eoghanacht  of  Cashel ;  but,  soon  after  the 
English  invasion,  these  were  driven  from 
that  territory,  when  they  settled  in  Eogha- 
nacht Ui  Donnchadha,  now  Magunihy 
barony,  in  the  county  of  Kerry.  See  "  The 
Topographical  Poems  of  John  O'Dubhagain 
and  GiollanaNaomhO'Huidhrin."  Edited 
by  John  O'Donovan,  LL.D.,  n.  523,  p. 
Ixii. 

78  The  Deise  or  Nan-desi,  descended  from 
Fiacha  Luighdhe,  the  elder  brother  to  Conn 
of  the  Hundred  Battles.  Having  been  ex- 
pelled from  Meath  by  Cormac  Mac  Airt, 
they  possessed  that  part  of  Munster,  extend- 
ing from  the  River  Suir  to  the  sea,  and  from 
Lismore  to  Credanhead.  They  occupied  the 
eastern  extremity  of  the  present  Waterford 
county.  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Leabhar 
na  g-Ceart,  or,  Book  of  Rights,"  n.  (k),  pp. 
49,  50- 


i66 


LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.       [February  i 


Momonia.  The  place  is  called  Magh  Fea,79  by  St.  Brogan  Cloen.^^  Our 
saint  allowed  her  drovers  to  proceed  with*  the  man,  and  after  a  day's  journey, 
they  all  came  to  a  mountain  district,  called  Grabor.^'  Here,  the  man  found 
his  swine  straying,  and  at  once  he  knew  them  to  have  been  driven  away  by 
wolves,^^  from  his  own  far  distant  lands.  But,  when  the  servants  of  St. 
Brigid  went  thither,  by  some  wonderful  instinct,  and  as  it  were,  through  a 
reverence  for  the  holy  woman,  the  wolves  departed,  leaving  those  swine  un- 
harmed. The  drovers,  receiving  their  charge,  conducted  them  safely  through 
vast  woods  and  extensive  plains,  to  the  farm  of  their  mistress.  Here  they 
arrived,  it  is  stated,  on  that  day  succeeding  their  departure,  and  the  herdsmen 
related  all  those  wonderful  facts  which  had  occurred  during  their  absence.^3 

St.  Brigid's  great  example  drew  other  pious  ladies  to  a  cloistered  life.  The 
daughter  of  a  certain  prince  had  devoted  herself  to  God,  by  a  vow  of  chastity. 
But  her  father  desired  her  to  marry  a  husband  of  his  choice.  On  the  night 
appointed  for  her  nuptials,  however,  even  when  the  marriage  feast  had  been 
prepared,  this  maiden  fled  from  her  parents,  and  took  refuge  with  Brigid.^* 
The  following  morning,  the  trembling  fugitive's  father  pursued  her,  with  some 
horsemen.  Seeing  this  cavalcade  at  a  distance,  the  glorious  abbess  made  a 
sign  of  the  cross.  Then,  all  were  fixed  to  the  earth,  until  they  had  repented 
of  their  evil  intention.  Afterwards,  these  horsemen  were  liberated  from 
their  strange  position.  Thus  was  the  protected  lady  delivered  from  a  worldly 
spouse,  and  united  to  a  heavenly  one,  according  to  her  own  most  earnest 
desires.  ^5 

It  so  happened,  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  person  needing  it,  applied  to 
Brigid  for  a  measure^^  of  honey.    Whilst  our  saint  felt  acutely,  that  she  had 


79  Magh-Fea  is  identified  with  the  present 
barony  of  Forth,  in  the  county  of  Carlow. 
See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of  Ire- 
land," book  ii.,  part  i.,  chap,  i.,  p.  421  and 
n.  60.  However,  the  real  plain  is  probably 
Magh-Feimhin. 

^0  According  to  the  Latin  version,  an  ac- 
count is  thus  given,  in  the  First  Life  : — 

**  Porcum  pinguem  ipsi  datum, 
Per  campum  Magefea  dictum  (res  prse- 

clara) 
Insecuti  sunt  lupi, 
Usque  dum  effugiens  veniret  ad  Hu- 

achter  Gabhra." 

— Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga."     Vita 
Prima  S.  Brigidae,  §  xxx.,  p.  516. 

^'  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  re- 
lates these  miraculous  occurrences,  states, 
that  this  mountain  separated  the  ancient 
provinces  of  Meath  and  Leinster.  See  *'  La 
Santitk  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibemese."  Libro  Sesto,  p.  535.  This 
foreign  writer,  however,  totally  mistakes 
the  local  position  of  Grabor — or  rather 
Huachter  Gabhra — which  seems  to  have 
been  somewhere  near  or  within  the  present 
mountain  ranges  of  Slievemargy,  between 
the  county  of  Kilkenny  and  Queen's  County. 
For  some  highly  interesting  expositions,  re- 
lating to  Gabhran  territory,  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  a  learned  contribution,  "Topo- 
graphical and  Historical  Illustrations  of  the 


County  and  City  of  Kilkenny,"  by  John 
Hogan.  See  "Journal  of  the  Kilkenny 
and  South-East  of  Ireland  Archaeological 
Society,"  vol.  v.  New  series,  pp.  234  to 
251. 

^*  In  those  early  days,  such  animals  in- 
fested our  woods  and  wastes,  and  to  them 
might  well  apply  the  poet's  lines  : — 

"  Cruel  as  death,  and  hungry  as  the  grave, 

Burning  for  blood,  bony,  and  gaunt,  and 
gi-im. 

Assembling  wolves  in  raging  troops  de- 
scend, 

And,  pouring  o'er  the  country,  bear 
along, 

Keen  as  the  north  wind  sweeps  the  glossy 
snow. 

All  is  their  prize." 

— James  Thomson's  "  Winter." 

83  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  cxxix.  and  n. 
78,  pp.  541,  545.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae, 
lib.  ii.,  cap.  xciv.,  p.  562. 

^'^  This  account  occurs  in  Abbate  D. 
Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santiti  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibemese."  Libro  Sesto, 
pp.  529  to  532. 

"sSee,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cxx.,  p.  541. 

^^  In  two  of  our  saint's  Lives,  this  * '  quan- 
tum" is  called  a  Sextarius,  which  was  an 
old   Roman   measure,  holding   something 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.  167 


no  honey  as  a  present  for  the  applicant,  suddenly,  the  hum  of  bees  was 
heard  under  the  pavement  of  that  house,  in  which  she  resided. ^7  When 
that  spot,  from  which  the  humming  proceeded,  had  been  examined,  a 
sufficient  amount  of  honey,  to  relieve  the  petitioner's  wants,  was  there  found. 
The  man  received  as  much  as  he  asked  from  St.  Brigid,  and  with  joy  returned 
afterwards  towards  his  home.^^ 

The  following  miracle,  performed  by  St.  Brigid,  has  been  recorded. 
Cogitosus  precedes  it  with  an  account,  which  is  of  still  greater  interest,  to 
the  Irish  historian.  The  king, ^9  ruling  over  that  part  of  the  country,  in 
which  our  saint  lived,9°  had  ordered  the  construction  of  a  road,  which  should 
be  able  to  bear  the  driving  of  chariots,  waggons  and  other  vehicles,  with  a 
large  array  of  horse  and  foot,  for  purposes  of  a  social,  civil  or  military  nature. 
He  commanded  the  inhabitants  of  all  districts  and  territories,  under  his 
sway,  to  be  assembled,  and  to  take  part  in  such  labour.?^  That  road,  he 
intended  to  construct  in  a  permanent  manner.  For  such  purpose,  branches 
of  trees  were  used,  and  stones  were  placed  for  a  substructure.  Certain 
trenches  or  mounds  were  formed  through  a  deep  and  an  almost  impassable 
bog,92  while  they  were  brought  through  soft  and  marshy  places,  where  a 
large  river93  ran.  When  various  subject  tribes  and  families  had  assembled, 
the  road  was  marked  out  in  different  sections,  to  be  severally  constructed, 
by  the  clans  or  people,  to  whom  those  portions  were  respectively  assigned. 
But,  when  the  difficult  and  intricate  river-section  fell  to  the  lot  of  a  certain 
powerful  clan,  its  labouring  contingent  sought  to  avoid  this  most  onerous 
part  of  the  road-making.  Compelled,  by  their  superior  force,  St.  Brigid's 
weaker  gang  of  workmen  had  to  undertake  that  labour.  The  more  powerful 
clan  unfairly  selected  an  easier  section,  which  was  apart  from  the  river. 
Whereupon,  Brigid's  kindred94  came  to  her,  and  complained  about  the  harsh 
and  unjust  treatment  received  from  their  stronger  rivals.  Our  saint  told  them, 
that  the  river  should  move  its  course,  from  where  they  were  obliged  to  work, 


about  our  pint  and  a  half.  In  Troy  and  ^5  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  re- 
Avoirdupois  weight,  it  is  variously  estimated,  lates  this  incident,  calls  him  the  King  of 
as  containing  from  eighteen  to  twenty-four  Leinster,  and  localizes  the  road-making  or 
ounces.  In  Horace,  allusion  is  made  to  embankment  in  "la  ProvinciadiLabraide" — 
"vini  sextarius."  See  lib.  i.,  Satirarum,  but  on  what  grounds  may  be  questioned, 
i.  1.  74.  See  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S. 
^7  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Celrtani's  **  La  Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  404 
Santitk  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  to  408. 
Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  438,  439.               ^o  Most  probably  at  Kildare. 

*^  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  9^  "  According  to  the  ancient  Irish  annals, 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xxx.,  p.  and  other  fragments  of  Irish  history,  the 
522.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cxxx.,  ancient  Irish  had  many  roads  which  were 
p.  541.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae.,  lib.  ii.,  cleaned  and  kept  in  repair  according  to 
cap.  xcv.,  p.  562.  As  usual,  the  foregoing  law."— Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Leabhar  na  g- 
miracle,  related  in  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidse,  Ceart,  or  The  Book  of  Rights."  Intro- 
cap,  liv.,  p.  582,  is  amplified,  with  many  duction,  p.  Ivi.  Some  very  curious  illustra- 
additional  details.  It  is  possible,  the  follow-  tions  and  an  enumeration  of  several  old  roads 
ing  account  may  refer  to  the  same  incident ;  follow,  ibid.,  pp.  Ivi.  to  Ix. 
but,  most  probably,  it  relates  to  a  different  ^'^  Grunnce,  Anglice,  bo^s,  are  frequently 
miracle  : —  mentioned  in  the  Lives  of  our  Irish  saints. 

93  This  may  have  been  the  Liffy  or  the 

"  Medo  erat  ei  oblatus  Barrow. 

Nee  detrimenti  quidquam  passus    est  '*  This,  with  other  allusions  in  her  Acts, 

offerens  :  seems  to  indicate,  that  St.  Brigid's  family 

Repertus  est  juxta  ipsius  domum  belonged  to  Leinster,  at  least  on  her  father's 

Sine  defectu  vel  augmento. "  side. 

95  See  Colgan's    **  Trias   Thaumaturga." 

Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  xli.,  p.  517.  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xxxi.,  pp. 

Bid.  522,  523. 


i68  LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS.         [February  i 


and  should  run  through  that  section,  chosen  by  their  oppressors.  On  the 
morning,  when  all  were  assembled  for  the  work,  it  was  found,  the  river  left 
its  former  bed,  and  that  place,  for  which  St.  Brigid's  friends  had  been 
specially  drafted ;  while,  its  course  ran  near  to  that  quarter,  selected  by  the 
numerous  and  powerful  clan,  who  had  thought  to.  circumvent  and  oppress 
their  weaker  fellow-labourers.  As  a  proof  of  this  miracle,  attributed  to  the 
holy  abbess,  Cogitosus  remarks,  the  deserted  channel  and  empty  valley, 
which  had  formerly  been  filled  with  water,  might  be  seen,  in  his  time  ;  while, 
the  river  itself  flowed  at  some  distance  from  this  natural  channel,  but  then  a 
dry  and  deserted  hollow.9S  Long  after  the  illustrious  saint's  departure, 
popular  tradition  preserved  a  recollection  of  the  supernatural  occurrence,  and 
associated  it  with  some  particular  conformation  of  ground,96  which  probably 
has  not  yet  disappeared.  It  seems  not  unlikely,  a  river  not  far  from  Kildare 
and  some  contiguous  boggy  or  low-lying  land  may  afford  a  clue  to  discover 
that  dried  channel. 

Among  the  number  of  our  saint's  miracles,  Cogitosus  tells  us,  that  the 
following  occurrence  is  not  the  least  memorable.  Three  lepers,  having  asked 
an  alms  from  St.  Brigid,  received  from  her  a  silver  vessel. 97  Fearing,  how- 
ever, that  distributing  the  proceeds  of  this  gift  might  prove  a  cause  of  con- 
tention among  them,  our  saint  directed  a  certain  man,  accustomed  to  deal 
in  silver  and  gold,  that  he  should  divide  the  vessel  into  three  equal  parts. 
One  of  these  was  to  be  the  property  of  each  leper.  The  dealer  in  precious 
metals  began  to  excuse  himself,  by  saying,  that  he  could  not  fairly  execute 
such  a  commission.  Then,  holy  Brigid,  taking  the  silver  vessel,  cast  it 
against  a  stone  and  broke  it,  as  she  intended,  into  three  parts  equally 
valuable.93  Wonderful  to  relate  !  when  these  three  divisions  were  afterwards 
weighed,  no  single  fragment  was  found  to  be  lighter  or  heavier  than  another,99 
even  in  the  slightest  appreciable  degree.  Thus,  without  envy  or  quarrel, 
these  poor  men  returned  joyfully  to  their  homes. ^°° 

We  are  informed,  ^°^  that  while  the  holy  abbess  and  her  nuns  were  en- 
gaged in  prayer,  a  certain  rich  nobleman  suffered  from  a  dangerous  attack 
of  fever. ^°*  Setting  little  account  on  his  temporal  possessions,  at  that  time, 
and  being  willing  to  perform  a  meritorious  action,  he  desired  his  servants  to 
select  and  present  the  best  cow  from  his  herd,  as  a  gift  for  our  saint.  His  ser- 
vants, however,  selected  the  worst  heifer,  which  could  be  found  ;  but,  on  the 


^  See  ibid.      In  the  Third  and  Fourth  Ponderatse  erant  illae  partes  per  artificem: 

Lives  of  our  saint,  the  foregoing  account  is  Et  repertum  est  (ecce  miraculum  aliud), 

greatly  abridged.     Vita  Tertia  S .  Brigidce,  Quod  nulla  pars  inventa  est 

cap.  cxxxi.,  p.  541.    Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidos,  Praeponderasse  alteri." 
lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcvi.,  p.  562.      In  the  latter 

lives,  it  is  also  stated,  that  the  dry  course  of  — Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sees,  xxxix.,  xl., 

the  river  was  to  be  seen  at  a  time  when  the  p.  517.      See  also  a  similar  statement  in 

authors  wrote.  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  liv.,  pp.  580, 

57  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  581. 

Santita  Prodigiosa.      Vita  di   S.    Brigida  '9  Cogitosus  adds,  as  it  were  parentheti- 

Ibemese."    Libro  Quinto,  pp.  436  to  438.  cally,  "licet  uno  obulo,  de  his  inventa  est 

9^  This  miraculous  occurrence  seems  al-  tribus  partibus." 

luded  to,  when  we  read,  according  to  the  '°°  See- Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

Latin  version  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen's  original  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap,  xxviii.,  p. 

Irish : —  522. 

"'  In  St.  Brigid's  "Sixth  Metrical  Life. 

**  Donarium  argenteum,  quod  non  potuit  '°^  "  Dives  habebat  opes  aeger,  quod  per- 

frangere  deret  auri, 

Faber  aerarius  (quod  prJEclarum   erat  Copiam  &  argenti,  multarum  pondera 

Sanctse)  rerum, 

Fregit  Brigida  sua  manu,  Centones,  stimulos,   pecora,   ac  in- 

Ut  exsilJciit  in  tres  partes  sequales.  gentia  rura." 


February  i.]       LIVES  OF  THE  IRISH  SAINTS  169 


night  following,  the  animal,  thus  selected,  was  killed  by  seven  wolves. "3  in 
the  morning,  those  herdsmen  not  only  found  the  heifer  killed,  in  the  midst  of 
other  cattle,  but  even  the  dead  bodies  of  those  seven  wolves  were  scattered 
near  the  carcass,  which  they  had  not  been  able  to  devour.  This  remarkable 
occurrence  was  long  remembered  in  that  part  of  the  province. '"-^  Our  saint's 
great  miracles  were  not  alone  famous  in  her  own  country ;  for,  with  the 
lapse  of  time,  Brigid's  name  became  celebrated  through  all  nations,  where 
the  Christian  faith  had  been  received. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

ST.  brigid's  reputed  residence  at  GLASTONBURY— the  EARLY  PRACTICE  OF  WRITING 
AND  ILLUMINATING  IN  IRELAND— WRITINGS  ASCRIBED  TO  ST.  BRIGID — THE  CON- 
VENTUAL RULE  AND  DISCIPLINE,  UNDER  WHICH  HERSELF  AND  HER  NUNS  LIVED 
— HER  CHARITY  IN  RELIEVING  THE  POOR— HER  MODESTY,  HER  SELF-SACRIFICING 
SPIRIT,  HER  LIBERALITY,  HER  GIFTS  OF  MIND  AND  PERSON,  HER  POWERS  FOR 
HEALINC?  THE  SICK  AND   INFIRM,  HER  VIGILS,  AND   HER  CARE  FOR  SUBJECTS. 

We  cannot  receive  as  duly  authenticated,  or  even  as  probable,  several 
assertions  of  mediaeval  and  more  recent  writers,  who  have  treated  concerning 
this  illustrious  virgin.  It  has  been  stated,  that  about  the  year  488,  Saint 
Brigid  left  Ireland,  and  proceeded  towards  Glastonbury.^  There,  it  is  said, 
she  remained,  until  advanced  in  years,  on  an  island,  and  convenient  to  the 
monastery  in  that  place.^  Whether  she  died  there  or  returned  to  Ireland  is 
doubted. 3  But,  it  seems  probable  enough,  such  a  tradition  had  its  origin, 
owing  to  this  circumstance,  that  a  different  St.  Brigid,  called  of  Inis-bridge, 
or  of  Bride's  Island,  had  been  the  person  really  meant.  She  lived  many 
years  on  a  small  island,  near  Glastonbury,  called  Brides-hay,  i.e.,  BrigidcB 
insula.''  This  latter  St.  Brigid  is  said  to  have  been  buried,  at  Glastonbury.s 
Another  cause  for  a  grievous  mistake,  about  St.  Brigid's  and  St.  Columkille's^ 


*°3  These  animals  appear  to  have  been  very  =  Colgan,  referring  to  this  fable,  remarks 

numerous  in  Ireland,  as  also  to  have  been  ontheignoranceof  that  vi^riter,  who  assigned 

destructive  to  human  beings  and  to  domes-  the  burial-place  of   these  aforesaid  saints 

ticated  animals.     At  so  late  a  period  as  the  to  Glastonbury.     This  city  never  contained 

beginning  of  last  century,  some  wolves  were  the  bodies  of  our   St.  Brigid,   nor  of  St. 

to  be  found.    In  Ulster,  the  last  wolf  known  Columkille,    Abbot  and   Confessor.      The 

to   exist   was    hunted    from    Benyevanagh  latter    is    even  ignorantly  named,    Colum 

mountain,  in  Londonderry  county,   and  it  Killa,  after  such  a  manner,  as  to  indicate  a 

was  killed  in  t